For many years we have been teaching kids Quran in a certain way. The focus is merely on learning the recitation of the Holy Quran whereas understanding of this holy book is so much more than that. It is the book which stays with a child throughout his/her life and s/he is supposed to take guidance from it. The introduction of this book to the children must be powerful and long lasting.
Here are some ideas to teach kids Quran in a fun creative way. We have picked stories from Quran and devised various ways for parent or teacher so they can learn from it and teach kids in an interactive way.
Here is an example. You can teach them the story of Ashaab e Feel the 105 surah of Quran Surah Al Feel by different activities.
RECITATION-Surah al Feel
One of the learning styles is ‘visual learner’.Even if a child doesn’t know Arabic yet, you can watch illustrated videos of Quran verses of this story with the kids and those images will record the happenings of the story in his mind.
TAFSEER- Surah al Feel
If you already know the story well, its okay but its always better to revise it before teaching it to someone or discussing it with your kids. Here you can find different scholars discussing this story and explaining what happened in Makkah when the year prophet Mohammad SAW was born and story of Ashaab e Feel happened.
ANIMATION- Surah al Feel
Kids love cartoons. Another medium is to sit with kids and watch some good animation explaining that story.Human mind thinks in images and these childhood images will stay with him forever.
People who have worked on these are from UAE, US and UK and one might not find the story in native language but most animations can be found with English subtitles. Another suggestion is to watch them with kids and tell them what’s going on in the movie. Here are some options you can pick from:-
BOOKS- Surah al Feel
Book Reading has all kinds of benefits from mental stimulation to relive from stress. Book-reading give knowledge enhance vocabulary and person develop good analytical skills and focus.
There are a lot of books for kids about this story including activity book, pop up book, puzzle book. You can buy them the book, read it with them , do activities with them all of which will help kid understand the story better.
Here is the link http://bit.ly/2htCZ8N
If you are from Pakistan , Al Balagh stores have all such kinds of books.
There are some kids who just wont sit still. They wont listen to the story, wont watch animations and just want to run aronnd and play . Their dominant learning style is kinesthetic and they go for hands on learning. This becomes a challenge as you dont find the material for these types easily.
Here are some suggestions:-
ORIGAMI- Surah al Feel
Origami is a Japanese art of paper folding. You can easily find paper and learn how to make these and create an origami model of the story of Ashaab e Feel. All arts are very beneficial for kids development but this particular art helps in math reasoning, temporal spatial skills, sequencing skills and develops eye hand co ordination. While improving kids’ mind one fold at a time, you can teach kids this beautiful story of Ashaab e Feel from the Holy Quran when small birds overcame an army of elephants. A manifestation of Allah’s power..
Here is a link where you can find video tutorials of Origami and Story of an Elephant
FELT ART- Surah al Feel
Stitching is integral part of Waldrof education and everyone engages in these class projects.You can find foamic sheet from stationay store and stich characters from the stroy. This is preferable with some older kids so we arent surprised from any accidents J With every stich, children are learning not only the story but it helps them in fine motor skills and eye hand co ordination.Kids develop a product at the end and it gives them confidence and its good for their self esteem.
Here is the link for video tutorials http://bit.ly/2i80iWl
FOOD ART- Surah al Feel
Food art is the most unique activity you can do with kids.Kids love playing with their food. How about making food art with them and let their plate tell the story. Stories’ characters can be made by different edible items. It is a challenge to make kids eat organic and healthy. Food art is a nice way to encourage them. They make something from nothing it will make them a deep thinkers in life and they’ll start seeing things not as they seem but ‘what they could be’.
Here is the link where you can find videos related to food art.
PLAY DOUGH- Surah al Feel
Another art activity for highly charged kids who just wont sit still. Rolling squeezing play dough is always fun for kids.Playing with play dough strenghthens kids’ muscle tone and burns out their engery as well. Not only toddlers but older kids also enjoy making models. Getting play dough is very easy you can find it in bookstors. Get it and learn yourself how to make a play dough elephant and engage kids by teaching them how to make it.
Here is the link where you can learn how to make this models
CLAY ART- Surah al Feel
Using clay kids can make a lot of differnet things.Researches suggest that playing in mud making mud pies is great for kids’ development. Many developed countries are exploring Forest schooling that is bascially a school without walls. Using clay to make models is theraputic for kids. It gives them time to be all messy and enjoy clay on their hands. It is one of the cheapest arts supplies easily available in the market.Kids will love this activity the most . It helps them in fine motor skills and dexterity.
Here is the link for ‘how to make clay models:
DRAWING – Surah al Feel
Kids start drawing at a very young age. Another way you may talk about the story with kids is Drawing.You can give them assignment to draw what they thought happened in the story. Drawing gives them the art of expression. Pscyhologists use drawing as a great tool for knowing whats going on in kids’ minds.Kids perceive things differently. Their developing minds dont view the world as adults do. Asking them to draw might reveal what they understood happened in the story. Drawing is also great for kids dexterity.
Here is the link for the tutorial
COLORING- Surah al Feel
Kids love to color. It helps them in fine motor skills and it is relaxing.It requires patience and focus.
Here is a link where you can download coloring pages for this story.
PICTURE STORY – Surah al Feel
In this particular story, lot of things happened. Abraha’s reason to attack Kaba, his trip to Makkah, the incident of the camels, Mehmood (the elephant)’s story,incident of Nufail Bin Habib who was a captive of Abraha,the arrival of birds etc Kids might confuse the order of these things. Picture Story is best for this as kids see pictures in order of events. It also encourages multi sensory learning. Here is the link for how to make it.
NAPKIN ART- Surah al Feel
Napkin art is a very creative art. You require nothing but a piece of cloth. Doing such activites with kids, kids will learn to explore and test everything which will make them explorers for life.
The process of making is the point of it. The object looks good if the process felt good. This needs to be a kind of ballet. And this is what I try to with my work, to take it to an edge of something – because that’s always where the interesting things happen.
– Paul Jackson
an origami expert
TANGRAMS- Surah al Feel
Tangrams help kids develop problem solving and logical thinking . Making characters from the story would be a fun activity for them. It will also help them in understadning basic maths concepts such as symmetry, area, perimeter and geometry.
SONGS- Surah al Feel
Last but not the least, Singing
Singing the lessons of the story is one of the most powerful way to inculcate the message into the minds. Also this will provide as an alternative for people who are looking for positive entertainment for kids. You can play these tunes in your car or in the living room while kids making art. If you are having a ‘surah feel’ themed event in yout institution, these will sound real good on the speakers.
All the voideo tutorials have songs related to the lesson of the story for reinforcement.
Here is the link to some of the songs:
People who prefer tunes without musical instruments, here it the link
NOW the kids have heard the story, read it, sang it, made art about it.Next time when they see birds they are reminded of that story when they see the elephants , they think about Mehmood, elephant fromt he army of Abraha. I have done these stories with kids and results are amazing. Kids develop the loveof Quran they want to know more and more about what this book says. Telling kids fairy tales is a good passtime but kids develop a wrong sense of world. Such stories tell them the realites of real life.
We have covered six stories from Quran so far. Check out this link for more.
