Humpty Dumpty Totbook

This is my daughter, Amina’s totbook. You wouldn’t think there would be a lot that you could include in a totbook about Humpty Dumpty, would you? Think again!

This cute little totbook includes cut out and paste story sequence cards, colouring activities, and lots of facts to learn about eggs, such as how eggs can be used in foods and different kinds of animals that lay eggs.

It also includes some nice little art and craft activities.

I made this totbook with a sheet of A3 card folded inwards to A4 size.

These are a string of Egg Fact cards all about different animals that lay eggs.

Here are another set of Egg Fact cards about using eggs as food. Amina thought about the different ways we use eggs in our own food and drew some pictures to illustrate that.

Inside this flap is a picture of Humpty Dumpty that Amina coloured, cut out and glued down.

These are a set of letter E cards strung together with a word started with the letter E pasted down on each card. Why the letter E? E is for eggs.

This little book lets your child complete the story sequence by correctly pasting down the pictures in the right order.

Here we have some cards strung together shaped like horses. The cards are blank and so could be used as you wish. I decided to get Amina to think about and draw the different foods that horses like to eat.

This final set of cards are more scientific. It lists the different animal groups (fish, reptiles, birds, insects) that lay eggs as well as listing specific animals from those groups. Amina cut them out and pasted them down and we looked them up in our animal books to find out where they lay their eggs, etc.

On the back of the totbook Amina used art and craft supplies to make her own version of Humpty Dumpty with tissue paper, pom-poms, googly eyes, felt shapes and glitter glue.

If you’d like to make a similar totbook you can find the files available to download from my File Share Widget on the right of the screen as you scroll down the menus.

2 letter Words File Folder

You would think that two-letter words would be easier to learn than three-letter words, but that’s not always the case. Many two-letter words in the English language are not pronounced how they are written and this can be confusing for small children who are just beginning to read.

So I was rather fortunate to come across this colourful set of two-letter words that I was able to make into a file folder. I found the templates on the File Folder Fun website.

Now I can sit and practise daily with Amina (and Basma) or even a couple of times a day to help her learn and remember the words. These words are usually learned based on sight-recognition as opposed to pronounciation (sounding out) and once these words are learned and memorised it helps to speed up sentence reading in future insha’Allah.

I also took the time to check an up to date English dictionary and I can confirm that these are all the most commonly used two-letter words in the English language.

For additional practise and reinforcement I also get Amina to write out and read back as many of the two-letter words as she can.

New Baby Lapbook

Masha’Allah, tabarak’Allah, I am expecting my baby daughter at the end of March insha’Allah so I thought it would be a nice idea to involve the kids in a family project that can help them better understand what it means to have a new baby in the family.

I was inspired to make this lapbook after seeing Umm Abdul Basir’s lovely lapbook here. She very kindly made printable templates available to download. The Islamic elements are her own design, masha’Allah.

Here is how the lapbook folds out.

On the first page is a set of 4 flaps that ask questions and give answers about what happens when the baby is ready to be born.

This is a diaper shaped pocket and inside we put the scan photos showing various weeks of development, we may have a couple more to include over the next few weeks insha’Allah as I have a few sizing scans to attend.

This nice little flap details the verses from the Qur’an with questions for the kids to answer and understand how Allah creates life in the womb.

Here are some adorable letters that each of the kids wrote to the baby, telling the baby how much they love the baby and what they are going to do for the baby when she is born insha’Allah. There are a few lines that they will be able to complete after the baby’s born.

Here are 4 cards containing details of the kids measurements as a little momento to show the baby when she’s grown up and so that the kids can see how they have grown compared to the baby.

This is a book to complete details on who the baby looks like but we can’t complete this until after she is born insha’Allah.

This cute little flap resembles a photo album and inside the kids have drawn the members of our family now and what we will look like after the baby is born.

My young girls had fun making this cycle wheel that shows the baby’s development from crawling through to walking.

This pocket contains a couple of activities.

First up is a set of family cards that help them to learn the Arabic names for various family members. Yusef practised his Arabic writing skills by filling out the cards.

And next is a nice jigsaw puzzle that depicts a Muslim Family sat around a table for dinner.

This pocket contains a set of cards which represent what the baby will need.

Basma stuck down red jewel hearts to represent love. Amina stuck down silver jewel hearts to represent hugs. And Samira drew X’s on this card to represent kisses.

The younger girls helped to match up and glue down the pictures of the items that we will need to prepare for the baby.

Here are a set of cute counting cards with a baby theme.

And finally a set of card that Yusef completed showing members of of family and how they are related to the baby. They will be completed after she is born insha’Allah.

ADORABLE, MASHA’ALLAH! 

Simple Grammar Poster

My daughter Samira has recently been reviewing nouns, adjectives and verbs, so I put together this table poster to help her remember how to distinguish between the three.

I printed off a set of word cards, in this case, all relating to weather and she used sticky tack on the back of cards to put them into their correct groups on the poster.

Origins of Christmas Symbols & Traditions Lapbook

This is a lapbook I researched and put together for my 8 year old son, Yusef during the end of December and early January. He is old enough to fully understand now that living in the UK, people have different religious and cultural backgrounds and celebrate different festivals. 

Having come from a non-Muslim background, my parents are not religious but they do celebrate Christmas and this is something that my children are aware of. Year upon year they come to recognise the signs that Christmas is coming … decorations in the street, images of Christmas Trees and Santa Claus in the shops etc and even though we don’t celebrate Christmas ourselves, they are very aware that this celebration takes place annually and I felt it was time they got a better understanding of this celebration and its relevance to those who celebrate it.

The idea of this lapbook is to teach the basic beliefs of Christians and the significance of Christmas to them as well as to explain the meaning and origins of various traditions and symbols that also represent Christmas and how most, if not all of these traditions reach as far back as Ancient Rome and Pagan Europe.

We also did comparisons between our Islamic beliefs and the beliefs of others and refered to quotes and references from Islamic, Christian and Pagan sources.

 I printed off the various templates to make the minibooks from the Homeschool Helper Website.

When the lapbook opens out you can see the many different minibooks included.

This is a shutterbook about the story of the Nativity. Inside Yusef wrote about the Christian beliefs and the story of the birth of Jesus as the Son of God. We then discussed the differences in the Islamic story of his birth and looked at quotes from the Quran that teach that Jesus was a prophet and not the Son of God.

Next is a small cross book which explains the Nativity in more detail with Christians beliefs explained on one side of the page and Islamic beliefes explained on the opposite side.

This is a small flap about the Star of Bethlehem. Yusef realised that stars are often used to top the Christmas tree and we learned that the traditions represents this star which is significant to the story of the Nativity.

Here is a book about Angels, also significant to Christian beliefs, they hailed the birth of the Son of God according to the Nativity.

This small accordion book is all about Candy Canes which are traditionally eaten and used as decorations at Christmas time. Some people believe that the upside down cane looks like the letter ‘J’ representing the name of Jesus. Yusef wrote on the reverse of the accordion book about the history of the first candy canes, made in 1600 and handed out to children in church. The idea is that the cane represents the crook of the shepherds mentioned in the Nativity.

This is a circle book that talks about mince pies and how they were originally linked to Christian celebrations.

Here is a shutterbook about Christmas Crackers. Yusef wrote about the invention of the Christmas Cracker and gave details of what is included in a cracker. Even I was surprised to discover that the significance of the paper crown traditions stems back to the times of the festival of Saturnalia celebrated by the Ancient Romans.

This is a mini tag book shaped like a Christmas stocking. Inside Yusef wrote about how Christmas stockings first came to be used.

Similarly, this flapbook explains the origin of some European practises of leaving out shoes instead of stockings. These traditions date back to the Norse practises of the Gemanic and Scandinavian Pagans of ancient Europe.

This is a small stack book about Santa Claus. We read a great deal of information on Wikipedia and it seems that there are a number of origins for the man known as Santa Claus. Some stem from Norse Mythology, but most commonly known is the story of the Christian man who later became known as Saint Nicholas because his kindness towards the poor people in his town.

Next is a gift-shaped tag book explaining the origin behind giving gifts at Christmas. This tradition dates as far back as the Ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was celebrated by giving gifts to one another as well as to the gods between 23rd and 27th December. More commonly known is the tradition of giving gifts that represent the giving of gifts to Jesus by the Magian kings.

This sheet with pull out gingerbread men looks at the origins of gingerbread and how it became linked to Christian celebrations after the ginger spice was brought back to Europe and the UK by the Crusaders returning from the Middle East.

This is a flip tag all about wreaths and how they are rooted in the ancient beliefs and practises of the European pagans who would gather evergreens and light fires during the winter solstice in the hope of welcoming the arrival of the new Spring.

This is a pizza fold book that explains in further detail the meaning of the candles and how the wreath became intertwined with Christian beliefs. The lighting of the candles represents the expected arrival of the Son of God and the centre candle represents the night of his birth, i.e. Christmas Eve.

This little flap talks about ornaments and decorations such as baubles which are used to decorate Christmas trees. This practise came originally from the Christian tradition of bringing a tree into the church and decorating it with apples to represent the Tree of Paradise. Later baubles took the place of the apples.

This little flap book discusses Christmas trees. The practise of bringing ever greens into the home dates back as far as Ancient Egypt! The Christmas tree is a feature in many homes at Christmas time in both religious and non-religious households, but we were surprised to learn that the Christian Bible actually condemns the practise of bringing trees into the home and decorating them, likening this tradition to the way of the pagans.

This flap book talks about the Yule Log which is a tradition more common in Europe than in the UK now. The Yule Log dates back to the time of the European pagans who would select and burn a particulary hard log that would burn continously believed to ward of evil spirits and represent the hope that the dark days of winter would pass and the new spring would arrive.

This flap is all about Wassailing. This is a practise that I had never heard of until I read about it whilst researching for this lapbook. It is actually a tradition that dates backs to the time of the Saxons and was then intertwined with Christmas. Wassail is an alcohol drink that is consumed and shared at Christmas with the greeting of “Waes Hael!” which is Old English meaning “Be Well!”
We took the time to discuss what alcohol was, the effects if can have on the body and why it is forbidden in Islam.

Next is a shutterbook about holly, a commonly used decoration at Christmas time. We learned that this plant was revered by the Ancient Romans and was specifically linked to their god, Saturn. We also learned how holly was important to European Pagans and later became significant to Christians who believed the green leaves represent the eternal life of Jesus as the Son of God and the red berries represent the blood spilled when he was crucified, according to Christian beliefs.

Finally is a flap about Christmas Cards. Yusef wrote about who invented Christmas cards and why they were invented as well as the many different scenes that are depicted on Christmas Cards.

Below are some of the links we used for the references to make this lapbook:

• Origins of Christmas
• Origins of Christmas Trees
• Origins of Gingerbread
• Origins of the Candy Cane
• Origins of Santa Claus
• Origins of Christmas Foods
• Origins of Holly
• Origins of Christmas Stars
• Origins of the Yule Log
• Origins of Christmas Stockings/Shoes
• Origins of Christmas Decorations
• More of the Origins of Christmas (Full History)

Fossilisation Flapbook

This is my son, Yusef’s flapbook about the process of fossilisation. Flapbooks are a nice way of breaking down information that contains a sequence of events. It helps children to memorise and recall processes easily. Diagrams are particularly important. When children draw their own diagrams it helps them retain more information.

Yusef has been learning recently about fossils and rock formations and I thought this little flapbook was a nice way to help him remember the process of fossilisation.

We broke down the process into four steps that can be easily remembered. Yusef drew four diagrams and added details underneath to explain each step. This process focuses on the fossilisation of Ammonites.

To make this flapbook I folded a sheet of A3 card into half and then folded each half in half again. I then cut a slit up the centre of each outer half to make the individual flaps.

I printed off the title wording for Yusef to colour and stick onto the front of the flap book and when the flap is opened it reveals a diagram and some written information.

Here is the book when it is opened out completely.

Allah the Creator – Pizza Book

I was inspired to make this cute little pizza book after finding it on Umm Rashid’s blog.

I made it with my younger two daughters, Amina 4 and Basma 3. They made one each.

I like the idea that you can pack lots of information into a book that you can fold up and hold in your hand, masha’Allah.

First of all I cut out two very large circles of card. I didn’t have any large sheets, so I ended up taping two sheets together, which was actually helpful for creating a neat fold along the taped line which ran through the centre of the circle.

Then I folded each circle into half and then again into quarters. I then unfolded the circles which now showed 4 equal quarter sections. I then slit the circle up the length of one quarter to the centre of the circle, this helps with the neat folding of the finished book.

When the circle was prepared, I folded it up to prepare the front covers. I did this late in the evening while the girls were asleep, in preparation for the next day, so my older daughter Samira helped to make the front cover titles.

You will see below the elements for the pizza book which I printed for the girls to colour and glue down. I have made these printables available in my File Share widget for anyone wanting to use them, or you can print your own, or draw your own even.

When the book opens at the first fold it reveals two sections, one on the creation of the Heavens and the Earth and one on the creation of the Sun and the Moon.

The girls coloured the picture of the earth while we talked about Who created the earth and who lived on the land (animals and people) and who lived in the sea (fish). And then the girls stuck sticky silver stars around the earth to show the stars in the heavens.

The second section shows the Sun and Moon. while the girls coloured we talked about Who created the the Sun and Moon and why they had been created (for night and day).

I should mention here that because my girls are young I decided to make this book with them over 3 days, completing two sections a day. That way they weren’t over-whelmed and it helped them to better recall what they had learned the previous day.

When the Sun and Moon section folds down it reveals two further sections. One on the creation of the Seas and one on the creation of Plants and Trees.

We used some shiny blue card glued down to represent the ocean and the girls added some beautifully coloured fish. We talked about why Allah had created fish (“…so that we can catch them to make fishcakes…” was Amina’s answer, masha’Allah.)

Then we talked about the flowers and trees that Allah created and why Allah created trees (to produce fruit). Then the girls looked at the picture of the fruits and named them all as well as what colour they all are, masha’Allah.

The final two sections are revealed when the Plants and Trees section is folded down. Both of these sections are dedicated to the creation of Animals.

As Allah mentioned in the Qur’an in various ayat including ayah 40:79, He created animals for us to ride on and to eat:

Allah, it is He Who has made cattle for you, that you may ride on some of them, and of some you eat.

So one section was dedicated to animals that we ride on such as camels and horses, and one section was dedicated to animals that we eat. I discussed this with the girls and we talked about what each of the animals give us, i.e. milk from cows, wool from sheep, eggs from hens and the fact that we get meat from all three.

Finally here is a picture of what the pizza book looks like when it’s completely opened out.

Telling Time Lapbook

Over the past few years I have searched for suitable activities for teaching children how to Tell Time, but it wasn’t until recently that I came across exactly what I had been looking for. I first found an example of this lapbook on the Ummi Homeschools Me!! blog and after contacting the sister (Umm Raiyaan), she very kindly offered to share the templates to make this lapbook, may Allah reward her abundantly, ameen.

When the folder is opened out this is how the elements are laid out:

In the centre of the lapbook is a large pink clock with movable hands, held in place with a brass fastener. In the end I made my own clock hands because the ones in the template are rather thin and after a few turns they tend to bend and tear, so I replaced them with thicker, stronger ones.

My daughter Samira put this lapbook together. She cut out the numbers 1-12 and glued them down to make the clock face.

On the left side of the lapbook are 4 flaps, and under the flaps are clock faces with space to write the time in digital format and to circle whether it’s AM or PM.

Breakfast at 7 AM and Lunch at 12 PM.

Below the clock are 2 pockets containg cards with digital watches showing different times.

The green cards are hour cards in digital format.

The idea is to select a digital card showing the hour and to place the hands correctly on the analogue clock to match them up, as below:

The blue set of digital cards show the time in 5 minute intervals.

And again, the idea is to match up the correct time on the analogue clock.

On the right side of the lapbook is a collection of cards which teach counting in intervals of 5 minutes.

My daughter counted in 5 around the clock face drawing in the minute hand at the appropriate places i.e. at 20 minutes past the minute hand points at the number 4 on the clock face.

Then we learned all about 15 minute intervals and quarter past, half past and quarter to in this neat little layered flap book.

Samira coloured in the correct number of triangles and drew in the minute hand to indicate the quarter time periods.

Finally on the back of the lapbook we pasted an envelope for Samira to store her Telling Time Worksheets.

I printed off some worksheets for her to complete to test her understanding of both analogue and digital clocks. The set of 9 worksheets are available to download from my BOX File Share Widget which you will find as you scroll down the menu on the right of the screen. After many requests for the lapbook templates I have also made them available to download from my file share. 

The worksheets test knowledge of time on the hour, half past the hour and 5 minute intervals and 1 minute intervals in both analogue and digital format. There are also worksheets for children to write the time in words as well as a blank set for you to create your own.

 

Education Tips: Leaflet Learning

As a home-schooler of relatively young children, I find that I am constantly having to come up with new and interesting ways for my kids to learn and retain the information I teach them.

My son, Yusef was recently learning about India from one of his atlas information books and I suggested he put together a leaflet to display the information and facts he had learned.

He looked at many different aspects, first about the demographics, then about the crops grown and exported. Then he focused on the tiger which is famous in India. Then he added some information about the food eaten in India and finally he added in some information about the geography and topography of the country.

By breaking down and  laying out the information in this way, it helped him remember more of the information he had learned, masha’Allah.

Stories of the Prophets Activity Sheets

I spent a long time searching for reliable and suitable books to help teach my kids about the stories of the Prophets of Islam. One day a friend introduced me to a set of Learning Roots books that tell the stories of Prophets Adam, Nuh, Musa, Ibrahim and Isa (peace be upon them all). This set of books is aimed at children aged 5-6 years and there is also another set of books focusing on the same prophets in more detail for ages 6-7 years.

I love these books as well as many of the other products created by Learning Roots. In each book the story of the prophet is broken down into two or three sections focusing on particular points in the story. After reading through a section, the child reaches a set of activities that test the child’s understanding of what they have just read.

I guess the activities could have been completed within the books themselves but I didn’t want the pages spoilt for the younger children when they come to use them to study so instead I decided to reproduce the activities so that they can be printed as worksheets.

I have already covered Prophet Adam and Prophet Nuh with my kid’s last year. My daughter Samira made a lovely story poster based on the story of Prophet Nuh which you can view here – Prophet Nuh Story Poster. Then we covered Prophet Ibrahim just before Hajj this year and we have recently covered Prophet Musa (and Fir’own), which insha’Allah leads us nicely into our Ancient Egypt project.

I would like to share these worksheets with anyone who would like to use them insha’Allah. You will find them available to download in my BOX file share as you scroll down the menu bar on the right of the screen.

So far I have prepared worksheets for:

~ The Story of Prophet Adam ~

~ The Story of Prophet Nuh ~

~ The Story of Prophet Ibrahim ~

~ The Story of Prophet Musa ~

I would like to stress that the activities are copyright of Learning Roots, so please do not sell them. I have reproduced them solely for educational purposes to be used in conjunction with the Learning Roots activity books.

Below are examples of some of the worksheets completed by my children.

Prophet Adam ~ Activity 4

Prophet Adam ~ Activity 8

Prophet Nuh ~ Activity 2

Prophet Nuh ~ Activity 3

Prophet Nuh ~ Activity 7

Prophet Nuh ~ Activity 8

Prophet Ibrahim ~ Activity 2

Prophet Ibrahim ~ Activity 6

Prophet Ibrahim ~ Activity 7

Prophet Ibrahim ~ Activity 9

Prophet Musa ~ Activity 1

Prophet Musa ~ Activity 2

Prophet Musa ~ Activity 3

Prophet Musa ~ Activity 4

Prophet Musa ~ Activity 7

Prophet Musa ~ Activity 8