4 Hajj Inspired STEM Activities

6 years ago
/ Ramadan & Hajj
/ By samira
/ 2 COMMENTS

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math together make up STEM. Why is STEM education important? Because STEM is the future, it creates critical thinkers and enables/inspires the next generation of innovators. STEM activities are hands on and get kids creative juice flowing. These hajj inspired STEM challenge activities will get your kids thinking, observing, creating, exploring and most importantly learning.

The following activities offer many learning opportunities for kids, by building these structures younger kids strengthen their fine motor skills which is always a plus. It also encourages problem solving, designing and planning. You have to balance weight evenly, add support, and determine size and shape. But more importantly its provides the opportunity to discuss the places visited by the hujaaj.

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and is only required to be performed once in a lifetime for those who can afford it. The perfect time to learn all about Hajj is in Dhul-Hijah, the month when pilgrims make their way to Makkah to complete this five day ritual. So, if you are teaching your kids about Hajj and you want to add some hands on activities then you will love these Hajj inspired STEM activities. All the materials used for this project are common household staples, that you most likely have laying around in your house inshaAllah.

Before jumping into the activities, we encourage parents to print out pictures of the real Kaaba, Mount Arafah, the Jamaraat, and of the tents in Mina. This is to help your child determine how they will tackle the challenge and make it look as “realistic” as possible.

Activity One: Inspired by tents at Mina

Using only the materials provided, Build a tent.

Recommended Age: 5+

Materials to present to your kids:

White paper or felt fabric

Unlimited supply of toothpicks

Play dough ( or grapes, dots candy, jelly candy, marsh mellows) limit to 6 dot candy, marsh mellow or play dough for a small tent.

Extension questions:

1. Can it withstand windy weather? You can test this theory by using a blow dryer and experimenting with different materials. Compare a tent made with grapes and one made with marshmallows, which structure is stronger?

2. How many (miniature) hujaaj do you estimate can share one tent?

Activity 2: Inspired by Mount Arafat

Using only the materials provided, Construct Mount Arafat.

Recommended age: 5+

Materials:

Unlimited supply of Play dough (jelly beans, dots candy, marsh mellows)

Unlimited supply of tooth picks.

Extension questions:

1. Do you think it is easy for the hujaaj climb/hike mount Arafat? Is it a steep hill (look at pictures)? Can you make yours look more realistic?

2. What can you add to make it easier to climb the hill?

Activity 3: Inspired by the Kaaba

Using only the materials provided, Construct the Kaaba

Recommended age: 5+

Materials

Unlimited supply of clothes pins

Paper and Ruler (optional)

Extension questions:

1. Place the Kaaba structure on a paper, and ask your child to work out where the middle of the page is (you can keep it simple by providing an equally square paper)?