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KS1 Assemblies and Collective Worship. Something to Think About: Special days - Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr

Finding out about the holy month of Ramadan and the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr which ends it

Before the programme

  • What is this child doing? What do you notice about the special book that they are reading?
  • What shows you that this is a special book?
  • What do you like to read? What do you learn from the books that you read?
  • The Qur’an is special to all Muslims and it helps them to know how to live good lives.
  • What good things do you think the Qur’an might tell Muslims about?
  • What special times of the year are celebrations for you?
  • How many of them have special times for food?
  • Introduce the concept of fasting during daylight hours for Muslims during the month of Ramadan.
  • Have you ever ‘gone without’ food for any reason? Why did you do it? How did it feel?

Programme content:

  1. Some Muslim children tell us what they do during Ramadan and Ben introduces us to some of the features of Ramadan.
  2. Feature: A Muslim community group tells us about one of their Ramadan projects.
  3. Song. ‘We will grow’ (All about our school, no 10). Encourage the children to join in with as much as they can.
  4. Story: The Eid shoes. An original story by Fawzia Gilani-Williams. As Eid draws nearer, Mariam is very excited, as she knows that she will be given some new, red shoes. On Eid, the family go together to the mosque for prayers, but it’s only as they are on their way home that Mariam realises her Eid shoes are still at the mosque

  5. Reflection. Ensure everyone is listen- ing carefully and thinking quietly as we reflect on the importance of Ramadan and the benefits sharing and coming together with those around us.
  6. Opportunity for prayer: Children can turn their thoughts into their own prayer of thanks, or use the optional prayer from these Notes.

After the programme:

Talk about the story

  • When are you given new things to wear? How does it feel?
  • Why do you think Mariam wants to wear her new shoes now?
  • Should Mum have let her wear them ‘just for a tiny, teeny time’? Why?
  • Why did Mariam take off her Eid shoes very slowly?
  • Where do you keep things that are special to you?
  • Why do you think Mariam was worried at the mosque?
  • Why is everyone glad that it’s Eid?
  • Why didn’t Mariam notice that she hadn’t got her shoes on when she left the mosque?
  • Have you ever lost anything special to you? How did you feel?

Follow-up activities:

  • Find out about the ‘Five Pillars’ - celebrating the fast during Ramadan is one of them. Talk with children about which things they’d find easy or difficult to do if they were a Muslim child (and if they are, they could share thoughts from their own point of view).
  • Watch clips about Ramadan and Eid on the ±«Óătv ‘My Life, My Religion’ website (for older KS1 pupils) and on CBeebies for younger pupils.
  • Make delicious treats or sweets to celebrate Eid. There are some suggestions at: ±«Óătv Food.

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Focus image: a child reading the Qur’an
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