This is the Ramadan month.

The Ramadan started from 29th of

June. Children have learned fruitful knowledge about what
Ramadan means and gained deeper understandings of their
faith. Before Ramadan started, we had been reciting dua about
sighting moon which is
.
Amazingly some children memorised so quickly it took them
only three days. I also heard from the parents that they were
also practicing this dua with their family at home.
We also made telescopes and painted them. Then we took our
telescope outside to pretend we were sighting the moon. While
they were sighting, children were developing their feeling of
our universe, past clouds and blue sky which can be seen, and
felt a sense of wonder at Allahs mighty creations. We also did
some other art activities which related to Ramadan such as
creating a poster of the moon cycle which the children enjoyed
putting glitter on the moon and stars that the teacher cut for
them. We then hung them in the classroom for decoration. We
talked about the moon shapes such as crescent, quarter, circle,
and semi-circle, while we were putting moon phases on the
paper. They learned that Ramadan would start when new small
crescent moon appears in the sky.
Children also made some lanterns with paper; I have observed
that they were very keen to finish their lanterns. Once they
finished they were so happy and proud of finishing their task as
well. Children were introduced that people used to use lantern
to see the clear way to go to the Masjid for prayer.
During Ramadan, we discussed how fasting is prescribed, and
as a pillar of Islam is our duty when we are mature enough.
Children were practicing fasting while learning the idea.
Through pretending they were fasting between morning tea
time and lunch time. At morning tea time, we said dua for
start fasting

; at lunch time we said

dua of breaking fast. Children have been practicing dua for
breaking fast which is

.

During this holy month, children have learned about the
importance of good morals, habits, and conducting oneself as a
good Muslim even at their young age. While mat time we have
been introducing some good deeds which includes smiling at
people, sharing things and toys, respecting others, giving zakat
to the poor and needy, looking after younger ones ect we also
recited Quran as usual. They have learnt about five pillars of
Islam with emphases on fasting, prayers and paying zakat to
help the poor and needy. Children brought gold coin from home
and put them in the charity box in the centre. The children
have baked some date cookies (Maamool) which are
traditional Mediterranean Eid cookies for Eid celebration day at
centre. Overall we believed that children had captured sprit of
Ramadan through engaging in special activities at centre.