Night of the Moon activity ideas
Henna Hands Craft (preK-3rd)
Explain that using henna (a dried plant made into powder and then into a paste) to decorate hands and feet is a custom from Pakistan and India and parts of the Arab world. For celebratory occasions, like the Eid holiday and weddings, henna artists create intricate and beautiful patterns with henna paste on the skin. The patterns usually include flowers, vines, leaves, stars, moons, and paisleys. The longer you leave on the paste on your palms, the darker the orange stain, which fades away after a couple weeks.
Supplies: White or beige construction paper, scissors, orange and red markers, red stamp ink, and swirl, star, moon stamps
Craft: Have kids outline their hands with a marker onto a piece of paper. Using orange/red markers or stamps and ink, kids can then decorate their hands with flower, vines, leaves, stars, moons, etc. Make each hand different, or the same! Older kids can cut out their hand shapes.
Islamic Tile Geometric Art Craft (preK-5th)
Mosques and buildings in Muslim countries are often decorated with colorful tiles that use distinct patterns, much like you see in Night of the Moon. In Islamic tiles, you often see geometric designs, floral designs, and calligraphy.
Supplies: Multicolored construction paper, scissors, glue sticks, white paper cut into 6” squares
Craft: Pre-cut diamond, triangle, and square shapes out of colored paper in different colors. Help younger kids arrange the shapes into a simple geometric pattern onto a square paper and glue them down, making a “tile”. Older kids can come up with more intricate designs to fit into their square tiles.
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Phases of the Moon Craft (preK-3rd)
Explain that the lunar calendar (which is used to determine Ramadan) is based on the lunar month, which is 29.5 days. Below are the phases of the moon, except for the new moon, which is not visible. After this cycle is completed with the final crescent, it repeats with another new moon. The period when the moon is getting larger each night is called “waxing” and the period when it is getting smaller each night is called “waning.”
Supplies: Papers plates, scissors, white, yellow, blue, black paint, kitchen or sea sponges, cut into pieces
Craft: Each child gets a paper plate and can cut it into one of the moon phase shapes (new moon, crescent, half, gibbous, full, gibbous, half, crescent) or keep it round for full moon (easiest for younger kids). Each child should choose 2 or 3 colors (ex. White, yellow, black, or white and blue). Place a small amount of each color on a paper napkin. Give the students a piece of sponge and have them dip into one paint color at a time and then sponge paint their moons. Have students experiment with layering colors for a nice textured effect.
Author/Illustrator Activity (3rd-5th grade)
Give students a chance to experience the author/illustrator relationship!
Supplies: Writing paper, pencil, blank paper, colored pencils
Activity: Have each student spent 5-10 minutes writing a page of a picture book they are writing (about 3-4 sentences). Then, have the students switch papers with a partner, and “illustrate” their partners’ words on a separate paper. Have the students switch back and see how their words were interpreted and illustrated. Discussion: Did the illustrations match what they had in their mind? What did they learn about their writing? What do authors need to communicate to an artist about his or her work? How much can and should an author control the outcome?