Books to Celebrate Ramadan

This year, in the United States, Ramadan begins on the evening of Sunday, May 5 and ends the evening of Tuesday, June 4.

Some books that teach and depict Ramadan, for elementary school students, include:

Lailah's Lunchbox which tells the story of a young girl from Abu Dhabi who is fasting for the first time and has recently moved to the United States.

Under the Ramadan Moon a beautifully illustrated book that describes a family celebrating during Ramadan.

Hena Khan writes the favorite character of Curious George into a board book for younger children, where George celebrates with his friend Kareem. It's Ramadan Curious George

Another popular author for younger children, Karen Katz, wrote a board book titled My First Ramadan which introduces toddlers to the holiday.

Scholastic members might like this lower level non fiction book with colorful photos from around the world. Ramadan

Thankful Mayflower boats

We read a few Thanksgiving books and then created small Mayflower boats out of cardboard, the sails listed what children were thankful for.

Materials:
brown cardboard strips (from box), stapler, brown construction paper, black and brown markers, Dixie cups, Popsicle sticks, Elmer's glue, white paper, pencils, scissors

Steps:
1.  Build a cardboard frame out of a strip of cardboard, you could also use milk cartons
2.  Cover the frame in glue
3.  Wrap the frame in construction paper (making sure there was a bottom for the Dixie cup)
4.  Draw "wooden" boards and windows on our ships
5.  Turn the Dixie cup upside down and cut a slit in the top
6.  Insert the Popsicle stick mast
7.  Write our thankful items on the white paper and cut it out
8.  Attach it to the mast


Extension(s):  the children can also create Pilgrims to ride the ship,  write about the activity from a historical event perspective, as a "how to" paper, or a fiction story from a Pilgrim's perspective

 

Valentine's Wreath

A quick and easy Valentine's craft with minimal materials and preparation.  They can be hung around door knobs for a decoration.


Materials:

cardboard or a paper plate, construction paper, scissors, glue or glue stick, heart pattern (for younger students)
Optional: stickers, glitter, doilies

The easiest way to do this is with paper plates, but in a pinch a piece of cardboard works well.




Process:

1.)  Create a circle for the wreath base.  If students are doing it, have them trace a circular based object and fold the circle in half to cut out the interior circle.

2.)  Cut out hearts.

3.)  Glue a ring of glue around the circle.

4.)  Paste the hearts on, overlapping to hide the base.

Leaf Rubbings

Such a great autumnal activity for any age group, because it can be extended and used in so many ways.  I do this with my preschooler just for fun and to create fall decorations, but at school, we can write leaf haikus, categorize leaves, as part of a nature study, for descriptive writing, leaf graphs- the possibilities are endless.

Materials:

leaves
paper (copy paper or scrap paper works well)
crayons (with paper peeled)

The first step is collecting leaves that are fairly freshly fallen and not too dry and brittle.  
Collect them in varying shapes and sizes (though smaller leaves are easier for smaller children). 

Place the leaves under the piece of paper and with the side of the crayon, rub over the top of the paper.  The outline of the leaf and all of the spines will appear.

Read alouds to support:

Mighty Girls Books

The website amightygirl.com offers huge amounts of resources for teachers (and parents) to empower girls.  One tool that is currently offered, is their top picks of read-alouds featuring strong women or girls.

The website itself is amazingly categorized, rich in history, contemporary women, literature and even television and movies.  Definitely worth perusing!

Below is the reading list link:

Mighty Girl reading list

Personal Timelines (Vertical format)

There are so many ways to do timelines, here is one example from an ESL summer program in which I teach.  Students chose major events from their lives (birthday, a sibling's birth, entering school, etc) and recorded them on a rectangular piece of paper.  We then hung them with ribbon and the students presented their own timeline to the class.  This was primarily a speaking exercise, but can be used for developing writing skills also.  I have used this at varying grade levels, though these students are fifteen years old.

Display of class timelines.

Close up of timeline.

Another rectangle on a student's timeline.

Puppets

Puppets are such a great way for students to practice language and literacy.  I have been working with students in various grades and making puppets lately.  One of my second grade groups read a few plays and wrote their own, another group is performing a version of Cinderella that they read, and my fourth graders just finished Greek myth plays (from Scholastic printables).

This time, I gave them paper plates, popsicle sticks, and paper.  I drew a form for the younger kids and they used it to create their puppets.  The older kids wanted the freedom to make there own.  Here are a few:

Biodegradable Pots

In honor of Earth Day and spring, we recently planted seeds with the children.  We made biodegradable pots using newspaper.  Here are directions to print and a link to a Youtube video showing the process.  Fifth graders were able to do the folding to create the pots, though they planted with their first grade buddies.

We then used popsicle sticks and paper from the recycling bucket to create flags for the plants.


Folding pots link video.

Another, easier variation on newspaper pots:  Rolling newspaper pots step-by-step directions.

Some books (there are SO many) to connect to this activity are:  

From Seed to Plant- by Gail Gibbons

Titch- by Pat Hutchins

Plant Package- by Susan Blackaby

The Carrot Seed- by Ruth Krauss

Sunflower House- by Eve Bunting

Easter Egg Bunnies

I found this activity in Family Circle magazine.  It's quick and easy and inexpensive.

Completed bunny.

Materials needed: 

• plastic Easter eggs (the larger ones are easier to use & make sure they have holes on top and bottom)
• pipe cleaners
• a Sharpie or permanent marker
• pom poms or cotton balls for a tail
• a hot glue gun and glue stick
• (goodies for inside if you are so inclined)

Steps for making the bunny:
         
Open the egg and feed the pipe cleaner through and back through the same hole to create an ear.
Pull it back through and do the same with the other half of the pipe cleaner.
Do the same for the feet.  (You can also cut the pipe cleaner in half for the feet).
Draw a face on the front with the Sharpie.
 Glue the pom-pom on the back, with the hot glue gun, for the tail.

Some books related to this activity: 

The Bunny Who Found Easter- Charlotte Zolotow
The Easter Egg- Jan Brett
The Story of the Easter Bunny- Katerine Tegen

Non-Fiction Chart

A reference chart for kids when reading a non-fiction text.  As you are reading text with the kids (such as a Time for Kids or Scholastic News, or a photocopied text), identify examples of each of the features on the checklist.  Cut out, or copy and cut out the examples and paste them on the chart.  Then hang the chart to use as a reference.  If the children have helped create it, they are more likely to remember and refer to it.  Sometimes we have one for each reading group. 

Magnetic Boards for Learning

Any magnetic board is a fun way to practice multiplication facts, spelling words, writing letters, answering teacher questions.  One year I found several at the dollar store and was able to use them in small groups at reading and math time.  You can be as creative as the kids with the uses.  Also a great center activity!

                                                       
                                                     Early letter formation work

Yoga

I've used yoga for years, personally, in the classroom, and now with my toddler.  We're very lucky that one of his preschool teachers is actually a toddler/preschool yoga instructor, so knows how to bring it down to his level.

                                                                        cobra

                       

                                    downdog when we were waiting at an appointment

I have used it in the classroom when I taught second and third grade and had some very energetic (hyper) children in my classroom.  The whole class would do yoga for five minutes after our morning meeting and we had a "yoga corner" for kids who needed a break during working time.  This corner had a set of yoga cards, but sometimes the kids just stretched and came back to their seats.  Here is are a few shots of toddler/preschool yoga.  Now we do it when our son needs to unwind or quiet down after a big activity.

                                    Actual field trip during summer school to a kids' yoga studio.

Classmate Puzzle

I use this activity towards the beginning of the year or first days of class.  This one was made with teenagers who I teach from Taiwan in the summer.  Each student designs a puzzle piece that reflects them, their family, interests, etc.  They use them as a talking point (in this case to develop their English), when sharing about themselves.  We then put them back together (the kids do it), and glue it down and hang it outside the classroom.

Steps:

1.  Draw the correct amount of puzzle pieces.
     (If there are an odd amount of students, I have created extra pieces in the past, and made one myself
      and or written the name of the school or program on one- someone who is finished first can also
      design this one).

2.  Cut the pieces out.  Mark the top and front of each piece, or you may get backwards and
     upside down pieces back and have to remake pieces.

3.  Explain the assignment with a model piece.

4.  The kids design the pieces and share them with classmates.

5.  Glue the puzzle back together.