Ramadan and Eid story unit · KS1 (Reception to Year 2)
The Moon We Waited For
Learning objective: Describe how some Muslim families mark Ramadan and Eid, and why kindness and giving matter to them.
Suggested story settings: Genre: Friendship · Length: 2 chapters · Time: 10–15 minutes · Story world: Crescent Moon Street
Talk questions
- What did Yusuf put in his good deeds jar?
- How did Yusuf's family know when Ramadan and Eid began?
Writing task
Draw a moon and star lantern. Write one kind thing for a good deeds jar: 'I can ___.'
Word bank
- Ramadan
- a special month for Muslims, when many families pray, read, give and do extra kind things
- Eid
- a happy celebration; Eid al-Fitr comes at the end of Ramadan
- crescent moon
- the thin, curved shape of the moon when it is new
- lantern
- a light inside a case of paper, metal or glass, which you can hang up or carry
- kindness
- being gentle, friendly and helpful to other people
Success criteria (information report)
Reception to Year 2: I can write facts. I can use a heading. I can label a picture.
National Curriculum statements
- “being encouraged to link what they read or hear read to their own experiences” (Year 1, Reading – comprehension (statutory))
- “drawing on what they already know or on background information and vocabulary provided by the teacher” (Year 1, Reading – comprehension (statutory))
- “writing for different purposes” (Year 2, Writing – composition (statutory))
Sample opening (written for litsee.com, to read aloud)
Yusuf pressed his nose to the window. The sky was turning pink and gold.
“There!” said Mum, pointing. A thin new moon hung over the rooftops, like a silver smile.
“Ramadan has begun,” said Yusuf. He hung a star lantern in the window, and Grandad hung a moon one beside it.
On the kitchen table stood an empty jar. “This is my good deeds jar,” Yusuf told Ellie. “Every time I do something kind, I put in a paper star.”
The next day, Yusuf helped Mrs Price carry her shopping. He put a star in the jar. Then he gave three of his books to the children’s centre. Three more stars!
Notes
Ramadan and Eid story unit · KS2 (Years 3 to 6)
The Lantern of Good Deeds
Learning objective: Explain how and why many Muslims mark Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, using respectful vocabulary.
Suggested story settings: Genre: Friendship · Length: 2 chapters · Time: 10–15 minutes · Story world: Crescent Moon Street
Talk questions
- Why do you think giving and kindness are so important during Ramadan?
- How did the class's lantern of good deeds help others? What could we add to one?
Writing task
Write an Eid card message for a friend, then a short paragraph explaining what Ramadan and Eid mean to many Muslim families.
Word bank
- Ramadan
- the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a time for Muslims to be thankful, patient and generous
- Eid al-Fitr
- the festival that celebrates the end of Ramadan, when the new crescent moon is seen
- charity
- giving money, things or time to help people who need it
- crescent
- a curved shape, thin at both ends, like the moon when it is new
- generous
- happy to give or share more than you have to
Success criteria (letter to a character)
Years 3 to 6: I can lay out a letter. I can use a paragraph for each idea. I can ask questions.
National Curriculum statements
- “identifying the audience for and purpose of the writing, selecting the appropriate form and using other similar writing as models for their own” (Years 5 and 6, Writing – composition (statutory))
- “select and use appropriate registers for effective communication” (Years 1 to 6, Spoken language (statutory))
- “drawing inferences such as inferring characters’ feelings, thoughts and motives from their actions, and justifying inferences with evidence” (Years 3 and 4, Reading – comprehension (statutory))
Sample opening (written for litsee.com, to read aloud)
On the first Monday of Ramadan, a paper lantern appeared on the wall of Class 4, with nothing on it at all.
“It’s a lantern of good deeds,” Amira explained to the class. “Every time someone does something kind, they add a star.”
“Is that what Ramadan is about?” asked Theo. “Being kind?”
Amira thought about it. “It’s a special month for Muslims. In my family we pray, we read the Qur’an together, and we try to be more patient and more generous than usual. The grown-ups fast in the daytime. And we give to people who need it.”
That afternoon, Amira and Theo stood by a cardboard box in the school hall. A sign on the front said: Books and warm clothes for the community centre.
By home time, the box held two picture books, a scarf and a single glove. Theo looked at it doubtfully. Amira smiled. “It’s only day one,” she said.
Notes
