Ramadan Activity Ideas for the Montessori Classroom

This year Ramadan begins at sunset on August 11th (on the Gregorian calendar) and ends on the 9th of September. Ramadan is a holy month of fasting and contemplation for Muslims around the world. Many fast and increase prayer and contemplation during daylight hours, ending the day with a prayer and a light meal called the iftar. One of the many benefits of the fasting is to remind Muslims of those who are less fortunate.

Brainstorm with your Montessori students for ways that your Montessori class can provide community service with this in mind. Your students may spend a morning at a soup kitchen or hold a school-wide canned food drive. Perhaps students can collect spare change in jars and send it to a local food bank or cook an appreciation meal for the fire station that services your school.

Older Montessori students may enjoy discussions and research about the connections between poverty, food quality, politics, food deserts, and other related issues. Ramadan is another opportunity to learn and promote understanding in the Montessori classroom. Help your students enjoy this chance to learn about their world with these fun activities!

Ramadan Activity Ideas for the Montessori Classroom

Ramadan provides many learning opportunities, including cooking and exploring food with your students. Of course, you can not ask your students to fast during daylight hours, but you can learn more about cultural dishes associated with different regions of the world when learning about those cultures. A suhor dish (light meal served before dawn during Ramadan) could be a delicious rice pudding with dates shown in the recipe below. Some students may have had a different version of rice pudding and would be interested in comparing the two versions.

Dates are special to Ramadan because it is believed that The Prophet Muhammed (also spelled Mohammed or Muhammad) ate them as well. The second dish below, a sweet side of spiced pears and pomegranate, introduces your students to some new flavors.

Here are the recipes to try with your Montessori classroom:

Rice Pudding with Dates (from allrecipes.com)
(6 servings)

What You Need:

• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 15 dates, pitted and chopped

What You Do:

Place the rice into a food processor or blender, and process until coarse, but not pureed. Transfer to a saucepan, and stir in the milk, sugar and dates. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until the dates are tender, about 20 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

Spiced Pears and Pomegranate (from allrecipes.com)
(4 servings)

What You Need:

• 3 pears - peeled, cored and cut into wedges
• 1 pomegranate, skin and light-colored membrane removed
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped almonds (optional)
• 4 sprigs fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)

What You Do:
Place the sliced pears and pomegranate seeds into a bowl. Toss with lemon juice to coat. Combine the brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a small cup or bowl, then mix into the fruit. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to blend the flavors. Serve in individual dishes, and garnish with a sprinkling of chopped almonds and a sprig of mint.

The NAMC lower elementary and upper elementary manuals for Cultural Geography provide cultural learning in imaginative and interactive activities.

Related NAMC blogs:

• Ramadan in the Montessori Classroom
• Montessori Classrooms Celebrate Holidays Around the World

Links:

• Teachers First Ramadan Resources
• Let's Celebrate Ramadan!
• Celebrating Ramadan
• Ramadan (Islam)
• Suhor, Iftar and Eid-Al Fitr

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.
© North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Thursday, August 12, 2010.