This weekend marks the end of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims fast, or do not eat, from before dawn to after sunset. They also spend the month doing good deeds, like collecting donations for charity.
The Muslim calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning it follows the cycles of the moon. Ramadan lasts for one full lunar month – the ninth month of the lunar calendar, to be exact – beginning and ending when the crescent moon is sighted.
This week for STEAM Saturday, we have a wonderful project that will help your child learn about Ramadan and the lunar cycle using none other than… Cookies!!
Before embarking on your appetizing astronomical adventure, consider reading the book Moon’s Ramadan, by Natasha Khan Kazi. This book follows the moon as it watches over people around the world who are celebrating Ramadan. It is a wonderful way to learn about the phases of the moon while also helping your child learn about another culture.
Now for some learning with a special treat, thanks to this simple, fun, and educational project by Islamimommy! Print out the moon phases worksheet HERE.
Provide your child with eight cookies (you pick the brand – whatever is the favorite in your house). Challenge your future astronomer to look at the lunar calendar and bite the cookies so that they look like the different phases of the moon, then place them in order of the phases.
Once you’re done, you and your child can celebrate by finishing those cookies together!
Check out the full activity, plus other Ramadan resources HERE.
As always, get as creative as you want, and above all, have lots of fun learning together!
We’ll see you right back here next Saturday for another STEAM Saturday activity! Scroll through the rest of our website to learn how Critchlow Adkins is Building Brighter Futures for the children and families we serve!
