Islamic art with Constructive Triangles an Extension

Geometry and Islamic Art

Geometric patterns in Islamic art have always intrigued me. I have been waiting to explore them with my kids. So when a friend lent me this book, I started making mental notes on how to go about with a lesson using the book. Lil Muallim # 1 read the book, but I failed to take out time to actually work with it with him.

Lo and behold the day came for me to return the book, so our morning started with this fabulous lesson which really developed itself. What followed was one our best homeschool lessons. Alhumdolillah !

CREATING A DESIGN WITH POLYGONS AND STARS BY STARTING WITH A CIRCLE

Honestly speaking Lil Muallim #1 was quite surprised when I showed him how to make a circle using marker in a compass. 

The following markings and designs were made by him.

MAKING AN 8 POINTED STAR BY EXTENDING THE LINES OF A SQUARE

STUDYING ISLAMIC ART WITH CONSTRUCTIVE TRIANGLES

Following is a not a Montessori activity as I know of but a self created extension. Lil Muallim feels there are more Montessori materials in our home for the lil one than for him. I used this opportunity to show him how he could create his own Constructive Triangles Extension. 

We used  3 constructive triangle boxes, the triangle and small and large hexagon, to make and explore different Islamic Geometric patterns as highlighted in the book.

HEXAGON

6 POINTED STAR

DEVELOPING MORE COMPLEX DESIGN VARIATIONS

HEXAGON BRAIN TEASER

Many years ago I had done a lesson on bee hives with Lil Muallim #1, on how perfectly the bees make their hives with all hexagon cells exactly the same. Subhanallah! 

So after Lil Muallim # 1 made the following showing how two triangles fit in between two hexagons, I asked him......

 "How come there weren`t any triangles in between the hexagons in a bee hive ?  

He looked closely at the pattern above moved out the two triangles and moved the hexagon side ways saying ... ``That`s because they are attached this way`` Now that self discovery is priceless.

Following are a few more of his design formations.

I am looking into buying these pattern blocks or something similar to explore tessellation  If any of you have suggestions please share in the comments :)

I've linked this activity up on Living Montessori Now's

Update: Many thanks to Deb Chintwood of  Living Montessori now for adding my link in her DIY Construction Triangle post after my Monday Montessori link up.

Hajj and Eid Mubarak

HAJJ MUBARAK 

and 

EID MUBARAK 

to all

Hajj Activities for Kids 2

IDEAS IDEAS EVERYWHERE

I was looking for around for ideas for Hajj to do with kids. It's amazing to see how many wonderful ways other Muslim Moms do Hajj activities, with their kids Mashallah! Due to other engagements I am not able to do much hands on these days. But I am really enjoying these amazing ideas on Muslim Mom Blogs. 

So the next best thing to doing activities  is looking and teaching through them. 

My kids enjoy seeing what others did. So here's a list I collected for them and sharing with you.

Besides the resource links I posted in Hajj Activities for Kids 1 post here are some of the best I have seen Mashallah. You will find printable and activities. Choose what suits you and your kids. Inshallah.

Go all the way down on the post and look for this button to get the downlaod of Pillars of Islam Printable with Related Ayah and Hadith Mashallah

Find the pdf for things to do on the first day of DhulHijjah at the end of the post through this button.

And then ofcourse theirs Eid ul Adha :) Once again find this button at the bottom of the Celebration of Eidul-Adha link.

 

7 acts of Virtue in the 10 days of Dhul Hajj

Hajj Banner Cute Mashallah

Pillars of Islam Mobile So nicely done Mashallah

Hajj Model THE BEST! MASHALLAH

Road Map Makkah to Madina 

Hajj Pop Up Card, Dio Rama and more Very cute Mashallah!

Hajj Journey Wooden Board Game SUPER COOL MASHALLAH!

Hajj Diorama Very simple yet detailed Mashallah!

Hajj Lapbook :):):):):)

I found this carefully written 10 Activities to learn about Hajj 

Hajj for kids step by step Great effort Mashallah

Makkah Lapbook Mashallah

Jannah Steps has a whole set of posts on Hajj Activities countdown. For convenience I will post links of each here Inshallah.

First there is the Hajj Journal Print use Mashallah!

Hajj Countdown Activities 2/10 get the passport and pack the suitcase

Hajj Countdown Activities 4/10 Hajj Travel book and Map 

Hajj Countdown Activities 6/10 Ihram and Talbiyah

Hajj Countdown Activities 8/10 Mina tent and Arafah Dua

Hajj Countdown Activities 10/10 Jamarat stonning and Udhiya

 

Ilma Education and play has some very simple and interestion posts Mashallah.

Kabah Impressionist Painting So cute :):):):)

Islamic Mosaic Art Subhanallah! This ones a must do :)

3 Hajj Printable Glad to have found these Alhumdolillah

SUBHANALLAH!

May Allah reward these sisters immensley for sharing such inspiring activities Mashalah!

Learn About Hajj 1

 LABBAIK ALLAHUMMA LABBAIK

I came across this site and simply LOVE how it takes us through the Hajj journey Mashallah. May Allah  reward all responsible in its making ABUNDANTLY. A phenominal effort Mashallah..... 

You will find everything from important information to land marks, timeline, posters and so much more.

Here are a few images from the website Wathekker

SUBHANALLAH !

Check out for yourselves.

HAJJ JOURNEY @ wathakker.info

Mashallah , now that's one definite way of putting your graphic designing talents in good use. A wonderful Sadaqa e Jaria! May Allah increase all those involved in this project in khair to do much more in His way Ameen.

Wow Factor

THAT IS SO COOL!

Do you have those moments ? When you see something and find it SO COOL! It's fun to come across somethings that are just plain fun to see and enjoy and get the oo's and aa's from the kids....

So here are some of our oo's and aa's videos :) 

Some videos do have music so you may want to mute those.

Hajj Activities for Kids 1

Dhul Hijjah Activity Resources for Kids

It's that time of the year again. The blessed month of Dhul Hijjah. may we all be able to reap its rewards and benefit from its blessings Ameen.

 Too much is going on in our home, all at the same time so I wont be able post much here but would definitely like to re share our Dhul Hijjah activities along with the wonderful and beneficial list Umm Maimoonah has posted.

Hajj Prinatble and activity suggestions @ Umamah Learning Academy

Umm Maimoonah's Hajj activity list (loaded with links Mashallah)

A Hajj Activity pinterest board and another board 

If you have something related to share please do so in the comments and I will update this post with your idea too Inshallah.

Also you wouldn't want to miss Hajj Activities for kids 2 post.

Eid Muabark in Advance!

Leaf Sink or Float

A LEAFY EXPERIMENT

The final and the most fun activity we did with our leaves after the leaf comparison and leaf rubbing was ........... Leaf Sink or Float.  

I got the idea from Wonder Years. Her activity tray is so neatly set up, with true Montessori flavor :)

Step 1

First I asked Lil Maullimah,"What do you think will happen if you put a leaf in water ? Will it sink or float ?"

Lil Muallimah: "aaaaa.....sink"

Lil Muallimah: "huuuuuuhhhhh ! It didn't it, let me try another one.."

To my surprise and much delight.... she kept saying teh same thing and kept trying out every single leaf on the table :):):)

Step 2

"Will a coin sink or float"

Result: "Sink"

Step 3

Now try how many coins will it take to sink the leaf ?

Look closely... it sunk !

Let's try another one

And  another one.

Lil Mualliamh was totally absorbed in her leaves for a long time. Her comments, coin count and discovery was a pleasure to watch. Alhumdolillah 

Next time, whenever we redo this activity, I think we should do a bar graph for  the number of coins too.

I've linked this activity up on Living Montessori Now's