To know him is to love him ﷺ. As we endeavour to help our children to form heart connections with the Prophet ﷺ, we must begin with knowledge. Nurture a love of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in them by learning about him and his noble lineage ﷺ.
Memorising his patrilineal lineage (the male line) is a practice of the traditional cultures of the past that, sadly, is slowly being lost amongst modern-day Muslim children.
Using the FREE worksheets we have provided here, your children can easily memorise the blessed pure lineage of the Prophet Muhammad and strengthen their love for him ﷺ, insha’Allah.
These worksheet activities have been designed to make teaching the Prophetic lineage as easy (and enjoyable) as possible!
There are Four Ways to Use these worksheets;
Daily Memorisation. Remember a name from the Prophetic lineage each day (the correct order is on the guide sheet on page 3). Start from the Prophet’s father, Abdullah, and once remembered you can write it on the page.
Sing-a-long. Remember as many names from the lineage as you can, a great way would be to sing-a-long with theItsy Bitsy Muslims on Youtube where they are also learning the Greatest of All Trees. (An faster-paced alternative is this nasheed – includes music.) Once learnt, the names can be written on the page from memory. (Please note “Kilāb” which was a nickname has been replaced with the real name “Ḥakīm” on sheets – therefore is not the same as the Sing-alongs)
Sorting Game. Cut out all the names on page 4 and mix them and try and place them in the correct order.
Ordering Game. The order of the lineage is mixed up on this page 5, place the right number in the circle. The Prophet ﷺ is number 1 and his father Abdullah is number 2. Number the remaining in the correct order.
The lineage between Adnan (as) and Ismail (as) is not verified so is omitted.
Kilāb appears in the Hadith mentioned in Bukharī, but we have amended the original document and we have replaced “Kilāb” ,which was a nickname, with the real name “Ḥakīm” ibn Murrah, on the advice of our teachers.
We are experiencing a terrible economic downturn, which can affect the homeschool budget. Homeschooling can cost as much or as little as you want it to. When you’re first starting out, you may spend a bit more on supplies than you will in subsequent years. The cost of homeschooling is different for every family, it can add up quickly especially if you have multiple children, but it is possible to homeschool during the recession.
With homeschool budgeting, careful planning, and a positive attitude, you can give your child a quality education without breaking the bank.
In Episode 91 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share how you can homeschool on a budget especially when times are difficult.
One of the bonus points of a homeschool life is being able to go on field trips during term time when it’s quiet! But what are you supposed to do on a homeschool history trip?
Do you have to take all your books with you?
Do your children have to complete a project?
Do you have to collect “evidence” to prove your visit?
This blog post offers advice for each age group when attending a homeschool history field trip.
Why are homeschool history trips important?
The first piece of advice is the most important – you don’t HAVE to do anything! If all you and your children do is attend a field trip, explore your surroundings, and have a great day, then class that as a successful field trip!
However, as homeschool mothers, we carry a heavy pressure to squeeze every learning opportunity as much as possible. So, how can you make the most of a homeschool history trip?
First, understand why a homeschool history trip is important. The Charlotte Mason philosophy encourages our children to build relationships with the topics they are studying. What better way to build a relationship with the knights of medieval times than exploring the ruins of their once-glorious castle? How better to understand the struggles of Victorian life than to trail through the London dungeons?
By exploring history through trips as well books, children benefit from seeing their studies come to life. It allows them to experience the information first hand!
What should you do before a homeschool history trip?
How do you prepare for a homeschool history trip? This part can create an overwhelming to-do list, if you’re not careful. So, it’s important to remember that we cannot possibly teach our children every single piece of information available. The aim of our homeschool is to create a lifelong love of learning and an appreciation of the journey. We need to spark our children’s interest.
So, before a homeschool history field trip, that is your only goal – spark their interest. Teach them just enough to create a buzz of excitement about your upcoming trip.
Read impressive battle stories from Arthurian legend before visiting a castle.
Discuss the struggles of Abdullah Quilliam before he established the UK’s first mosque.
Try a day living like Tudors before visiting the Tudor houses and museums.
By creating this sense of wonder in your children, you are prepping them to make way for any new experiences the field trip has to offer.
For your older children, encourage them to think about other things they would like to know. If they have their own set of questions they want answering during the trip, they are taking charge of their own learning and being responsible for the satisfaction of having their questions answered.
Maybe they can research the field trip destination beforehand, and they can be the tour guide. Allow them to research what is available, and they can oversee where you go and what you do on the day.
Homeschool History: Level 1 (Under 7s)
If following a Charlotte Mason philosophy, you’ll know the “requirements” for under 7s are minimal. The focus should be on being outside as much as possible, maybe a little arithmetic, and plenty of snuggles with living books!
But this is when a field trip comes in handy. A child under 7 can enjoy a homeschool history trip for exactly what it is – an adventure and a chance for more exploration!
Encourage your child to collect souvenirs, and I don’t mean the expensive ones from the gift shops! Maybe your child finds an interestingly shaped rock or a flower? Maybe they find it thrilling to follow a map of your location in a brochure!
Tip: Remember anything collected can either be sketched or stuck into their Book of Centuries to commemorate their historical trip through time!
To find out more about How to Use a Book of Centuries – CLICK HERE
The idea for this age group is to keep stoking the fire of curiosity and wonder. Children under 7 have a natural inclination to explore and ask questions. Your only job is to not get in the way!
When travelling home, or even the following day, ask your child to orally narrate what they did on their trip. Let them tell you what they understood and the connections they made.
Homeschool History: Level 2 (Ages 7-11)
Once your child hits this age bracket, the intensity of work steps up a little bit.
Please note: this is by no means a hard and fast rule for this age group. Judge your child’s ability based on their progress rather than their age. If your child is still at the freestyle-exploration stage, leave them there! Often, they’ll show YOU signs they are ready to upgrade their learning.
So, what can a child do on their history trip? If their trip includes a destination linked to a current area of study, your child probably already has some questions they need answering. Find out beforehand what they will have access to on your trip and help them come up with a list of questions they’d like answering.
Another hands-on idea for your child is for them to document their trip – whether a video or photo diary, keeping a written journal, or even just collecting memorabilia for a scrapbook!
Tip: Take your Book of Centuries with you! You will probably come across lots of new information and dates on your trip. Let your child check this information against things they have already recorded in their Book of Centuries! [Purchase yours here UKUSA ]
Homeschool History: Level 3 (Ages 12+)
Now is when we must get serious… right? Well, not necessarily! Once your child hits this age range, a lot of his/her studies may start to take a “serious” turn. Whether you’re thinking about secondary school or GCSEs, children will notice the expectations for their work are increasing.
A history trip is not that time. See your history trip as a blessing and a chance for your pre/teen to get back to enjoying learning and seeing what they can soak up without an official plan. Children absorb a lot more information when they don’t think they HAVE to!
However, if you or your child are eager for more, set a history trip as part of a greater research project.
They don’t just have to visit Stonehenge; they are researching the impact of religion and spirituality in pre-historic Britain!
They’re not just visiting Gettysburg National Military Park; they are creating their own timeline and map of the civil war.
They’re not just visiting Titanic Belfast; they are putting together an engineering report of the safety requirements for a cruise ship.
They’re not just visiting Mesa Verde National Park; they are researching the Native American contribution to civilisation.
Helping your child build connections with what they are seeing on their trip with other areas of study is a guaranteed way to embrace the Charlotte Mason mentality during their older years. Education is a study of relationships, and a history trip is a fantastic way for older children to appreciate how their different areas of study are interconnected.
Once you get home
The days after a homeschool trip are a great time to soak in what you have all experienced and learnt. Whether you have an informal discussion or even go as far as to put on a presentation for family members! Find a way to recap or narrate your experiences and spend time with what you have learnt before moving on to the next topic. And that means you too! Join in with the children and show them that learning truly is a lifelong pursuit.
Keep focused
As you can see, there is no right or wrong way to go on a homeschool history trip. But what is important is that you remember your focus as a Charlotte Mason homeschool:
Discuss how topics are related.
Facilitate your child building their own relationship with their topic.
Remind them of the disciplines and habits required when out of the house.
Narrate back what they have learnt in a range of creative ways.
What do you do on your homeschool history trips? Leave a comment with your history trip recommendations!
[Don’t forget to order your Book of Centuries here UKUSA .]
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to craft a curriculum for your homeschool, how to choose the right resources, and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family. Whether you are homeschooling in the UK, or elsewhere in the world, this programme will help you give your children an incredible education at home.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to know to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
Charlotte Mason emphasises the importance of well-written and inspiring books, or ‘Living Books’. Parents find themselves scrambling for recommendations and booklists for their children’s subjects. When we get to history, the book search becomes even harder. Not because we can’t find decent books, but there are so many to choose from, it’s difficult to know which books will suit our family values. As Muslim parents, we need books which portray other than the Western world’s view of history.
Scroll down to find the book list of children’s Islamic history books I recommend!
This Blog-post contains affiliate links. For more information, see Disclaimer.
How to read like Charlotte Mason
The Charlotte Mason method places living books as its central focus when educating children. When they cannot read a book for themselves, it should be read aloud to them. In exposing children to a nutritious diet of elegant literature and wholesome prose, they can absorb knowledge and maintain it.
By gradually reading decent books, children develop knowledge andintelligence by making important connections in the material they are exposed to. The beauty of Charlotte Mason’s approach to education lies in its simplicity. Being exposed to a superb selection of books is all your child needs for an enjoyable and successful education.
How to choose Charlotte-Mason-approved books
One of the most common questions when starting the Charlotte Mason method is: “What is a living book?”
A living book is a book which is:
well-written
provides children with new ideas
a book your child finds enjoyable
inspiring and impacts the reader
literary in style, where possible. (However, they do not always have to be stories)
Now, this is why it is often difficult to narrow down a solid list of living books; because it will look different for every child. Where one child may find the ‘Just So Stories’ by Rudyard Kipling delightful and entertaining, another child might find them boring and difficult to understand.
However, well-written books are easier to identify among the bookshelves in a store or library. Finding living books is a skill you develop over time, so try not to get too overwhelmed in the early stages.
Does Charlotte Mason include Islamic history?
When researching the Charlotte Mason book lists, it can be easy to assume the history curriculum doesn’t favour an Islamic look at history. Some of the books appear to favour an Anglo-Saxon version of events, complete with the wonder of the British Empire and the valiant efforts of the crusaders.
However, it is important to remember that the Charlotte Mason approach is an educational philosophy, not a boxed-and-ready curriculum. You don’t have to purchase the book lists from her schools in order to benefit from her teaching advice. There is an entire world of published books to embrace, so feel free to go out for yourself and find books which suit your children and your family.
Living books inspire children, preferably in a literary way. We can easily apply this principle to Islamic books and tailor our history lessons to suit our Islamic values. Remember, we’re not looking for textbooks, and we’re not looking for books which display disjointed facts and condensed learning objectives.
Reading and your Book of Centuries
As well as living books, a Book of Centuries will prove to be an invaluable resource. After reading a passage from a history book, help your children find the correct timeline page. They can write or draw something to represent what they heard when you were reading. Find out more about using a Book of Centuries here:
The Our Muslim HomeschoolBook of Centuries comes with the added bonus of extra pages during the timeline of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. This gives you space to dedicate extra details to that important period and dive into the lifetime of the prophet in fun and engaging way. It also includes a timeline featuring some important dates in Islamic history from 570CE – 1924CE. Purchase yours here [link to the Amazon listing].
Like most history lessons, it can be difficult to keep the seerah engaging for your children. By using a Book of Centuries, your child can actively engage with the stories and decide for themselves what to include in their book. For more information and guidance on keeping your seerah lessons fun and engaging, check out this post [insert blog post link here]? the seerah one is not published yet.
Book list of Islamic History Books for Kids
If you need a book list to get you started, check out my list of recommended reading for history:
A Philosophy of Education (The Home Education Series) by Charlotte M Mason (For parents) AmazonUK | USA
Your ideal homeschool
Home education gives you the freedom to choose the topics important to you and your family. The Charlotte Mason method is particularly useful for this. The focus isn’t on the subjects you study, but how you present them to your children. Using the books above, a Book of Centuries, and a relaxed approach, you can make history lessons meaningful and enjoyable for you AND your children!
Related: Homeschool History Curriculum | Islamic & British CLICK HERE
How to Start Homeschooling UK
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to craft a curriculum for your homeschool, how to choose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family. Whether you are homeschooling in the UK, or elsewhere in the world, this programme will help you give your children an incredible education at home.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to know to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
In episode 55 of the Raising Mums podcast, we talk about what you can do if your husband is against homeschooling.
This episode was inspired by a question from a mama inside our Homeschooling course for Muslim Parents, Launch Your Homeschool.
Sister X said,
“I have spent the summer researching home education including thecourse.I am thoroughly convinced home education is best and that I am very passionate and capable. I’ve bought so many books….
Now my husband has become very anti-home education. He believes it’s best, however, he wonders what the point is if we aren’t definitely going to home-ed up to university (I’m saying we start with primary and see how it goes). He wonders how are our kids going to cope with the real world. Also, he cannot differentiate it from being a SAH (stay-at-home) wife, so he expects I would be doing more than if I was at work e.g. the house should be spotless, there should be three robust meals etc however if I was at work he doesn’t mind if I can’t keep up with the housework.
He thinks the sacrifice isn’t worth the benefit basically and would struggle to value my contribution when the school can do a good job for free. He is also worried that we have no family support.
I’m at a loss of what to do and not sure how to convince him. I’m just disappointed really, I know I can’t pursue it further without his agreement, but am heartbroken not (to) try home educating when I am so devoted to the idea.”
To hear my response, and find our what you can do if your husband is against homeschooling, press the “Play” button above.
Maths. The word alone can make many parents anxious! As a mum who has been homeschooling her four children for many years, I’ve tried a lot of different programmes. A lot! Some were great, and some were not! In this blog post, I’ll share one of my favourite resources to teach maths to children in reception, year 1 and year 2.
Please note, this is NOT just for homeschoolers. This can help you if your children are in school too.
This blog-post is sponsored by Reading Eggs. For more information, see our Disclaimer.
How we teach maths in year 2
In our house Maths has to be fun! From a very early age, children will decide what they think of a subject, and whether or not they consider themselves good at it.
That’s why we try really hard to make sure our young kids enjoy their maths lessons.
We do this by playing maths games, singing maths songs, bringing maths into our daily lives, and by using fun interactive resources like Mathseeds.
What is Mathseeds?
Mathseedsis a comprehensive online Maths programme for children ages 3-9. It teaches kids all the concepts that they need to know through carefully constructed lessons and activities.
And now they’ve but together Maths workbooks that can be used alongside their online platform, or as a stand-alone Maths curriculum.
Mathseeds Year 2 Workbooks
My first impression when looking at ourYear 2 workbook was how well made it and thick it was. Flicking through the pages, I can see that it covers ALL the material needs for a full academic year, so there’s potentially no need to buy anything else! The focus of this maths programme is to help develop their core maths skills and problem solving.
As soon as my daughter saw it, her eyes light up! It’s a beautiful looking book, and the pages feel thick and well made.
It has been cleverly designed to be used alongside their online programme or as a standalone curriculum, if you do not want to use the online platform.
There is a quiz after the every five lessons followed by a lovely certificate for your child.
At the front of the book, they provide a year planner to help you plan out how you’ll use the Maths curriculum throughout the year. At the back fo the book, you’ll find images for the cut and paste exercises.
And it’s not just worksheets! They also provide a intructions for optional learning activities to enrich your children maths learning.
It’s an incredibly comprehensive and well thought out programme.
Mathseeds offer workbooks for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in the U.K.
That’s ages 4-7. There’s also the equivalent books for our friends in U.S.A.
They even have workbooks for reading too! If you’re looking for workbooks to help your children develop their reading skills, check out the Reading Eggs Workbooks.
Although we’ve only just begun to use these workbooks, I really appreciate that they cover everything my daughter will need for Year 2. They’re fun for her and easy for me to implement.
My daughter doesn’t want to go back to the other maths books we were using before, so it looks like we’ll be using Mathseeds workbooks for the foreseeable future!
CLICK HERE to find out more about the workbooks they offer.
Peace and love,
Sign Up for Hundreds of FREE Homeschool Resources
– Get instant access to our RESOURCES LIBRARY with HUNDREDS of free resources to use with your children
– Receive our weekly Homeschool Community Newsletter, packed with ideas, information and inspiration to help you educate your children at home!
Summer has arrived! What does this mean for homeschooling families? Some families may want to have a long break and other homeschoolers may have different family needs and want to continue a relaxed homeschooling schedule.
This is the beauty of homeschooling, it is so flexible at times like these you can adapt it to you and your family’s needs.
In Episode 53 of the Raising Mums podcast, I discuss homeschooling in the summertime.
Homeschooling allows you to be flexible. It allows you to bend and alter the way you educate your children according to the seasons and the energy in your home. Make the most of it!
Winter – Largely indoor time having lengthy read alouds and playing board games. The energy is more mellow and, you enjoy more cosy, comforts.
Spring – There is a shift in energy. Excitement is in the air, there is a need to get outside and explore. Lots of nature studies, science, and geography.
Summertime – Energy is lower, feeling carefree & positive. This is a time of restful learning, continuing outdoor exploration, visiting local sites, reading aloud, listen to audiobooks, more independent reading out
Autumn – We’re all ready to get disciplined. So the focus gets directed to Maths, grammar, more structured subjects.
A balanced curriculum is still offered throughout the year and a wide and generous feast of ideas – but the focus alters with the energy of the family.
Summer is the perfect chance to have more time outdoors. It’s also the perfect time to enjoy a good book!
You can help your children stay consistent with their reading habits and fall in love with reading with Our Summer Reading Challenge! It’ll get even the most reluctant readers excited to read and join in the fun!
Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or just upset. We have all been there on our homeschooling journey but how do we overcome these feelings of anxiety and manage these thoughts when we are having a BAD day!
In Episode 51 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share what steps you can take to tackle a Bad Day in Homeschooling.
When considering homeschooling or even whilst homeschooling many parents struggle with low confidence. Despite the fact that most homeschooling parents are going above and beyond what they need to do in teaching their children, there’s still this underlying fear that they aren’t doing enough.
In Episode 48 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share how parents can build their confidence and start enjoying homeschooling.
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to choose the right subjects for your homeschool, how to choose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to know to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
Summer is the perfect chance to have more time outdoors. It’s also the perfect time to enjoy a good book! You can help your children stay consistent with their reading habits and fall in love with reading with Our Summer Reading Challenge! It’ll get even the most reluctant readers excited to read and join in the fun!
Why is reading important?
Reading has many benefits for children as they grow up, even if they can’t read by themselves. This is because books are a fantastic way to widen your child’s perspectives and help them understand experiences they might not normally be able to. Additionally, reading as a family gives children the opportunity to discuss topics from the book and expand their understanding even further. In this way, reading becomes a valuable bonding experience for the whole family.
How can a reading challenge help reluctant young readers?
A reading challenge is an excellent way to add some game-like fun to your reading time; your children will work together and have a goal in sight when selecting their books. By using a reading challenge, you can add a new element to your reading choices and encourage children to read outside their comfort zones and help them choose books they wouldn’t normally read.
Our Muslim Homeschool Reading Challenge
The Our Muslim Homeschool Reading Challenge is simple – by using the 18 categories in the image below, children can spend their summer selecting new books to read and enjoy together.
The best part is the categories apply to any age group, so all your children can get involved! Have fun going to the library or bookstore and hunting for books to fit each challenge.
By the end of the reading challenge, your children will have widened their reading experience and enjoyed a variety of books from different authors and genres. They may even find a new favourite!
Remember to share the books you will be reading using the hashtag: #OMHSReadingChallenge and enjoy seeing what other families have chosen for their summer reading challenge.
Reading Challenge categories
Here are the 18 reading categories your children will need for the reading challenge. Now, I know some of these categories seem to be more challenging than others, so I have offered two suggestions for each category: one picture book for younger readers and one book for older readers.
Some of these categories will overlap (a folktale may have won an award AND is also set in the Muslim world) but challenge yourself and your children to find one book for each category. Above all, remember that the more books you discover, the more fun the challenge will be!
If you’re struggling to find a book that meets any of the 18 categories, don’t worry! Below you’ll find some book suggestions for each category: one for young children and another for children over 10.
A book set in the Muslim World
Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams UK| USA
Oranges in No Man’s Land by Elizabeth Laird UK | USA
Migo & Ali: Love for the Prophets by Zanib MianUK | USA
The Great Miracle: The Story of Prophet Isa by Iqbal Ahmad Azami UK | USA
A book you have avoided reading
This category will be completely personal to you, but make sure you look through the books you already have in your home – which one hasn’t been read yet?
A legend/folktale
Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs by Sarah Conover UK | USA
Similar to the category challenging you to read the book you have been avoiding, this category will be personal to you. However, here are a couple of Muslim authors you may not have come across before:
The Great Race to Sycamore Street by J. Samia Mair UK | USA
A mystery/detective book
Officer Panda: Fingerprint Detective by Ashley CrowleyUK | USA
Museum Mysteries: The Case of the Empty Crates by Steve Brezenoff UK | USA
A non-fiction book
For younger readers, Usborne books are excellent quality with a variety of topics to choose from.
However, if your older readers would like to branch out and try something different, Heroes: Incredible True Stories of Courageous Animals by David Long is a wonderful choice UK | USA
Audible UK andAudible USA has a spectacular variety of audiobooks for your whole family to choose from. On the other hand, if you would like to try some Islamic stories, Miraj Stories have a wonderful selection of audio stories and content for Muslim children.
The suggestions above are options for you to choose from if you need some ideas, but to get your family involved in the choosing fun, head down to your local library and find books to fit each category.
In addition to your children enjoying the challenge, why don’t you get involved as well and find some adult books to fit the reading challenge categories?
Also, don’t forget to post your journey through the challenge by using #OMHSReadingChallenge on social media!
Happy Reading Friends!
Sign Up for Hundreds of FREE Homeschool Resources
– Get instant access to our RESOURCES LIBRARY with HUNDREDS of free resources to use with your children
– Receive our weekly Homeschool Community Newsletter, packed with ideas, information and inspiration to help you educate your children at home!
