Weather Lab: Reasons for the Seasons

Posted on May 18, 2011 by

We are completing science experiments here and there, using the earth science curriculum from Pandia Press. We’re not really doing them in order and sometimes we substitute for other things but the experiments are quick and easy and most of the materials can be found at home.

 

My daughter is trying to figure out which hemispheres have winter while the others have summer. It’s tricky showing rotation and revolutions at the same time!

In a few weeks, InshaAllah, I hope to get them outside during the night so that we can cover the sections on space. I am also using the Handbook of Nature Study and so far, we’ve used it to read about the interesting things that we find in our backyard, like the yellow jacket that found its way into the house on Saturday!

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Ancient China Notebooking/Lapbook (Long and lots of pics)

Posted on May 17, 2011 by

 

This is probably the most ambitious lapbook that we’ve completed thus far. We haven’t completed many as I’ve never been a fan of doing them, but they seem to get easier as the children get older and can make choices about the layout and pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

We read from Stories of the World:Book 2 by Safia Iqbal and Islamic Village Stories: My Chinese Village from Goodword Kidz.

For the lapbook, there were lots of pieces taken from our Ancient Civilizations eBook, dynamic2moms (scroll down for China), History for Kids and some from a lens on Squidoo. We omitted anything having to do with the Chinese zodiac and other shirky junk.

The lapbook contains several elements. First, we learned what the people of ancient China ate:

Then, we read about the difficult task of building the Great Wall of China.

 

After that, we learned to count (I don’t think it specified Cantonese or Mandarin?) and we completed an accordion-style timeline.

The costumes of ancient China are vast and for this we used a paper doll to display some samples from different dynasties.

We learned more about the Uighurs of China so that we may mentally connect with the Ulama and can visualize the reality of Islam being a global deen. We read about the nomads who come from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to spend a few months in the hills surrounding the villages of Uyghuristan,all the while living in yurts. You can see a slideshow of the Uighurs here.

 

 

Next up, we learned about the discovery of silk and the silk road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the back, we added definitions

And finally, we did a bit of dictation on the architecture of ancient China so that my daughter can sharpen her listening skills.

*The blank country page is from Geography Scribe* I search for maps and my daughter traces them in the empty space. We then use an atlas so that she can draw the flag.

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The Story of Sheikh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (FULL MOVIE)

Posted on May 13, 2011 by

MashaALLAH! It is important that we keep the biographies of our heroes alive. How many of us know the biographies of the great scholars of the past? Do we know their names or where they were born? We hear their names all the time but what can we tell our children about them? At night, when we tell bedtime stories, what are we telling?

 

 

[bubblecast id=301539 thumbnail=475×375 player=475×375]

 

Many of those who went before us lived in a harsh reality in conditions that were not nearly as comfortable as what we have today. They had no internet, only intellect. They couldn’t get on Skype for a study session or pal talk for a global session on whatever topic is hot at the moment. They had to sacrifice, travel, live on the verge of starvation sometimes and face other types of adversity.

We should love them and revere them like the non-Muslims love fairytales. If we as an ummah don’t know where we began, we will lose our identity and pride. We will have no sense of self, no pride in our legacy. Let’s do our best to stop that from happening, InshaALLAH.

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Maryland College Student Missing for 2 Weeks

Posted on May 9, 2011 by

Maryland College Student Missing for 2 Weeks

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged | 2 Comments

What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting… (Yet?)

Posted on March 26, 2011 by

Lifeguard on Duty

This is the first time in a long time that I haven’t had a baby on the way or been nursing one. It’s kind of weird. I miss it. No, really.

However, I am taking advantage of the time that I have been given and I am more mindful than ever of the opportunities that I have to study and learn, InshaALLAH. I am trying to spend more quality time with the children and hey, if and when the next one comes, they will all be old enough to help in one way or another, right?

There are some key activities that I want to accomplish in the meantime. In no particular order, they are:

1. Get in shape. I am in terrible shape at the moment. I have a bad back and knees and feet! and have to see a physiotherapist because of it. This has to be high on the list because I like to stand. And walk.

2. Eat a balanced diet. Sister Farhana might have to help me with this one. I’m good for a while and then I slack off BIG TIME. My food pyramid is upside down.

3. Get rid of clutter. It’s a madhouse over here. I’ve started getting rid of junk and plan to give some things that we just don’t need to charity. It’s a big project.

4. Get outside more. This is mostly hindered by the weather (it snowed again!)

5. Go to the masjid regularly. I honestly don’t go that often, but I’ve been going a lot more since the Sheikh comes to town regularly.

6. Work on being the woman that I want my daughters to emulate and my son to respect. This is a hard one and truly, none of these on the list should stop ever, but I’m just thinking out loud and because I have the clear mind to do that, it’s on the list.

7. Research my family tree. This takes a lot of time and effort. It’s very tedious and stressful sometimes but it is rewarding. I’ve learned a lot about my family in a short amount of time.

8. Memorize more Qur’an. I’m working on it (nearly) every day. I need to make it every day. Right now, I’m memorizing about 5 out of 6 days.

9. Take care of myself first. That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? I often think of the children first and usually don’t get to myself. It’s not good to lose one’s self.

10. Enjoy needing only one stroller. LOL

What are some things that you are working on?

Posted in Motherhood | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Muslim Womenpreneurs Bazaar

Posted on March 25, 2011 by

I probably won’t go but figured I would put the word out…

Posted in Local Events | Tagged | 4 Comments

Visited the Dollar Store

Posted on March 25, 2011 by

I’m pleasantly surprised whenever I go to the dollar store. I always find something that is useful and the children can go a little nuts without breaking the bank. I was happy to find items that keep the four year old occupied and I found a few items to help us along in our curriculum.

My four year old hates to feel left out or like she is missing out on the fun, but I don’t think that she is ready to sit still and focus on reading and writing just yet. She literally begs me each day to “have school with her” and tells me that she sees me spending school time with the others and that it’s not fair. I even tried to get some activity books for her but she wants “real books”. LOL, maybe she is ready?

At first, I thought that she just wanted more quality time but she quickly let me know that she wants to “do stuff in books”. And so I’ve given in after weeks of pestering and ordered books for her. InshaALLAH when they arrive, I will let you see. In the meantime, I’ve purchased some puzzles to add to our collection – she’s getting good at them so I tried to find some that will slow her down a bit. Here are a couple:

 

By the way, do any of you have a special way of storing puzzles? Do you keep them stacked or put the pieces in Ziploc bags or anything?

Remember oh so long ago when I told you about the Western Sunrise course? AlhamduLILLAH, I took the exam and scored a 93. One of the questions was something that I did not know AT ALL and another was something that I should have known but missed it anyway. Well, we are just finishing up our section on Ancient Egypt and then I think that we will cover ‘Isa (alayhi salaam) and the spread of monotheism and tawheed next. This means that we will talk a little bit about the struggle against Rome and how the Muslims traveled Westward along the Mediterranean coast. This is all just a broad overview but it gives my oldest more chances to practice her geography and study another prophet of Islaam, InshaALLAH.

The dollar store had a few items that I think will be handy for this:

 

 

I’d like to start getting out more for science but it snowed here again so I don’t see it happening just yet. We are anxious to get out into the night sky to take a look at the stars. This year, earth science is on our curriculum, so the children grabbed a few pairs of binoculars (to look at the moon) and I found this:

We also grabbed a few odds and ends, like brainteaser books, read aloud books and crayons!

 

 

Why oh why do we lose so many crayons and where do they go?! See that plastic box? I’ve refilled it probably three times since August. Actually, if you could see my walls…that’s where the crayons have gone. O_O

 

*top photo: Billy Alexander

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Posted in School Supplies/Finds | 4 Comments

ProductiveMuslim Animation – Just Go Do IT!

Posted on March 21, 2011 by

 

Posted in Organization | Tagged | 5 Comments

I’m Changing This Blog! I Think….

Posted on March 17, 2011 by

I don’t know if you’ve noticed how I’ve disappeared over the last few weeks, but I’m trying to figure out what direction I want to take with this blog. I’m sort of just going through the motions with it because I’m not happy with it right now. I’m still here just behind the scenes making notes and brainstorming. Are there any suggestions? What inspires you to visit a blog? Is there something that you miss on the blog that I used to do?

Posted in blog makeover | 7 Comments