Free Printable Ramadan and Islamic Activities for Children

For Muslims, Ramadan is holy season marked by prayer, fasting and abstinence. Ramadan, in the Islamic calendar is a month-long observance, falling roughly in the month of August. Here are free printable activities to help children explore Ramadan.

Ramadan comes from the Arabic term for intense heat and parched earth. It refers to a spiritual experience as well as the climate conditions in the month. The Five Pillars of Islam are Belief, Worship, Fasting, Almsgiving and Pilgrimage. Like Advent before Christmas and Lent before Easter in the Catholic Christian faith, Ramadan is a penitential season of sacrifice. Like Yom Kippur in the Jewish faith, Ramadan is a season for cleansing, atonement and purification.

Children learn best when they are doing things, rather than just hearing about them. This is true regardless of the beliefs, creed or religion of the family. Hands-on learning relates to development. Any time a child is actively engaged, he learns better. It is not sacrilegious to use physical activities to teach children about faith: it's common sense.

Many religions use outward physical acts to express inward spiritual experiences. Prayer, fasting, ritual cleansing, genuflecting, bowing, kneeling, extending arms upward, singing, chanting, yoga, liturgical dance, lighting candles, incense, even decorations in a house of worship are manifestations of faith. These activities are human responses to the divine.

The Holiday Spot (click here) has free printable Ramadan word games, crossword puzzles and word searches, using words and concept from Islam. What a great way to build vocabulary. These would make great lessons for a kuttab or madrasah (Muslim schools). The site also has free printable Ramadan greeting cards (click here). Children might like to make these and send them to family and friends. If you aren't Muslim but want to remember a friend who observes Ramadan, use these.

Primary Games (click here) has free printable Ramadan and Islamic coloring pages. As a teacher, I have found that when children color while they are being taught concepts, they pay attention and remember material better. While Islamic children are receiving instruction on the Qu'ran, they might be allowed to color these images to help them understand.

Crayola (click here) has free printable Ramadan coloring pages and well as printable graphic organizers for the Five Pillars of Islam.

123 Greetings (click here) has free printable Ramadan greeting cards in several designs and styles.

Ramadan Mubarak!