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Learning Together Joyfully:  APRIL: NOURISH TO FLOURISH 

Welcome educators, parents, caregivers and grandparents! Amongst our fondest memories are the experiences and traditions that we share with our family and friends. Families that share traditions with established rituals, traditions, and routines report a stronger connection and bond. Making our children aware of other cultural rituals and traditions helps them develop a positive sense of identity and builds self-esteem. With Passover, Easter, Vaisakhi, and the end of Ramadan happening in April it is a perfect time for all educators and caregivers to highlight and educate their children about the power of multiculturalism. To form positive self-concepts, children must honor and respect their own families and cultures and have others honor and respect these key facets of their identities too. If the classroom or home doesn’t reflect and validate their families and cultures, children may feel invisible, unimportant, incompetent, and ashamed of who they are. April is the perfect time to play, learn, grow, together with your children!

Quick Links

Use these links to quickly navigate to specific sections within this blog!

  1. Read and Sing Together
  2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing
  3. Explore, Engage & Interact together
  4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition
  5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning
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1.  Read and Sing together 📚 

WORLD RELIGIONS AND CULTURE: Reading the following books gives adults an opportunity to bring culture into the classroom or at home and to celebrate cultural diversity. Reading books followed by purposeful discussions, assists children to understand different cultures and for some to feel proud and develop a sense of identity. To form positive self-concepts, children must honor and respect their own families and cultures and have others honor and respect these key facets of their identities too. If the classroom doesn’t reflect and validate their families and cultures, children may feel invisible, unimportant, incompetent, and ashamed of who they are. The following books are culturally relevant and assist educators and parents to incorporate anti-bias curriculum and values in their learning spaces and at home.  You may wish to locate these books at your school or public library.

pngegg.com

BOOKS ABOUT VAISAKHI: VAISAKHI (or Baisakhi):  April 14. 2023. The Sikh New Year festival is one of the most important dates as it marks the start of the Punjabi New Year. It is also a day to celebrate 1699 – the year when Sikhism was born as a collective faith. Often Sikhs begin Vaisakhi with a visit to the gurdwara, a place of worship. After religious services are held, people begin a day of celebration. Traditional colourful clothes are worn during the parade as they sing, dance and chant hymns through the streets. Giving out free food comes from a tradition called langar. Everyone in the community, no matter how rich or poor they are, comes together to share a meal.  In BC, large local Sikh communities in the cities of Vancouver, Abbotsford and Surrey, typically hold celebrations and Nagar Kirtan (parades) in April.

IndianExpress.com
  • Let’s Celebrate Vaisakhi! by Ajanta Chakraborty In this multicultural and educational series. Join Maya, Neel and their pet squirrel, Chintu, as they visit Punjab in India to celebrate Vaisakhi, Punjab’s Spring Harvest Festival. Kids will learn about history, food, language and cultural elements of Vaisakhi.
  • The Garden of Peace by Navjot Kaur. When five ugly and dried up seeds are found, Elders wonder if they will grow.  Some throw the seeds aside, while others hold out hope. This is an allegory rooted in social despair, with a tyrant ruler and unfair social class system. Read to discover how a nation-building event in Sikh history harvested citizens of change. At the back of the book, there are five steps on how to grow a garden of peace. Earth Day takes place on April 22nd and points out the importance of our choices to conserve our earth. Connect these concepts and discuss how we can incorporate anti-racism by “planting seeds” and carrying out random acts of kindness, being fair (no discrimination); being brave; and having a growth mindset.
  • A Lion’s Mane by Navjot Kaur is a beautiful picture book that details the journey of a young child as he embraces his patka or dastaar using the metaphor of a Lion’s Mane. The main character also connects the lion metaphor to other cultures and historical figures around the world. Central to this story is a young Sikh boy, who explores what it means to be different just like you. The first page asks a question that will encourage deeper conversations about identity and belonging: “Do you know who I am?” Join this child’s quest for self-discovery through the metaphor of a lion’s mane.
The IndianExpress.com

Facts about Ramadan:

  • Ramadan is the ninth month in the calendar used for Muslim holidays. When it is near, they watch for a new crescent moon.
  • The calendar for Muslim holidays follows the moon which means Ramadan starts on a different day every year and can happen in any season. 
  • Caring for the poor is important to Muslims which is one reason why they fast. Fasting helps them understand how people feel when they go hungry.
  • The festival of Girgian which comes in the middle of Ramadan is reminiscent of  Halloween. Kids get dressed in traditional costumes and collect treats from their neighbors.
  • The new crescent moon marks the end of Ramadan and that day is called Eid al-Fitr. Muslims clean and decorate their homes and they have a big feast.
  •  It is a period of prayer, fasting, charity-giving and self-accountability for Muslims in Canada. 
  • The first verses of the Koran (Qu’ran) were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (also written as Mohammad or Muhammed) during the last third of Ramadan, making this an especially holy period.

BOOKS ABOUT RAMADAN  – Begins March 22, 2023 and ends on April 23, 2023.

  • Leilah’s New Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi. Lailah has moved far away to a new school in a new country. She worries that her new classmates won’t understand why she won’t be eating lunch at school during the month of Ramadan. A wise and helpful teacher and school librarian team up to help her find a way to explain her religion and help her new friends understand and respect her beliefs.
  • My First Ramadan by Karen Katz. This is a great way to introduce young kids to special days such as Ramadan. This simple story shares the basics of Ramadan as it follows a young boy who is finally old enough to fast for the first time.
  • Rashad’s Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr by Lisa Bullard. Ramadan is a time to focus on good deeds, and Rashad is trying his very best to be good and honor the spirit of this special month. At the end of the month, he celebrates Eid-al Fitr with feasting and fun! This book tells a lovely story and is full of additional facts about the Muslim religion.
  • The White Nights of Ramadan by Maja Addasi.In the middle of the month of Ramadan, Muslims in the Persian Gulf celebrate a special time called Girgian, centered around the full moon. Young Noor is excited to collect candy from neighbors and spend time with friends. However, she also receives a reminder that the most important things to focus on during Ramadan are family and giving.
  • Ramadan Moon by Nia’ima B. Robert. This book follows a young girl and her excitement as the Ramadan moon appears and the month of Ramadan begins. The young narrator takes readers through the various events of Ramadan, including praying in the mosque, readings from the Qur’an, and acts of charity and good deeds. The highlight of Ramadan for the young girl is the Night of Power, a time of forgiveness, atonement, and prayer.
  • Moon Watchers; Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle by Reza Jalali. Nine-year-old Shirin is excited for Ramadan to begin, and she really wants to be able to fast like the rest of her family. However, her parents tell her she is too young to fast, so Shirin must find other ways to observe Ramadan. Shirin focuses on kindness, good deeds, and being nicer to her brother, and she winds up feeling more connected to the Ramadan observance than she ever has before.
  • Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan. With breathtaking illustrations and informative text, this book magnificently captures the world of Islam, celebrating its beauty and tradition. Sure to inspire questions and observations about world religions and cultures, this entrancing volume is equally at home in the classroom or being read at home.
www.TrueShayari.in

EASTER – APRIL 7 – 10 This Christian holiday celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year it is celebrated from April 7 – 10. For some, this holiday begins with Lent—a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and sacrifice—and ends with Holy Week, which includes Holy Thursday (the celebration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his 12 Apostles). Good Friday (on which Jesus’ crucifixion is observed), Easter Sunday (the day Jesus emerged from the tomb after his crucifixion) and Easter Monday. Several non-religious Easter traditions include Easter eggs, the Easter Bunny delivering candy and chocolate eggs to children on Easter Sunday morning and related games for children such as egg hunts and egg decorating. Many of these classic Easter books, many of which have been around for generations, and can open doors for discussion about this Christian holiday.

  • Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. A little bunny keeps running away from his mother in this imaginary game of hide-and-seek. Children will be profoundly comforted by this lovingly steadfast mother who finds her child every time. The Runaway Bunny, first published in 1942 and never out of print, has indeed become a classic. Generations of readers have fallen in love with the gentle magic of its reassuring words and loving pictures.
  • The Great Eggscape by Jory John. The Good Egg and his pals escape their carton and drop into the store for a morning of fun, which is enjoyed by everybody. Well, almost everybody. Shel (an egg) isn’t a huge fan of group activities, especially when he’s made to be “It” for a game of hide-and-seek. Nevertheless, Shel doesn’t want to let his friends down, so he reluctantly plays. After a morning of hiding and seeking, somebody’s still missing. Will the dozen egg friends ever be reunited? Find out in this hilarious egg hunt adventure that reminds us to break out of our shells and help our friends in need! A funny book to share anytime, and the two sticker sheets make it especially egg-cellent for Easter.
  • The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Du Bose Heyward. The country bunny attains the exalted position of Easter Bunny in spite of her responsibilities as the mother of twenty-one children. The classic book, which has never been out of print, has come to be regarded by some as a feminist and anti-racist statement.  This all-time favorite character, can be seen as a woman who re-enters the work force while raising a family. It is a childhood favorite in which the Country Bunny goes on a quest to prove that she (as much as the male bunnies) can be wisest, swiftest and kindest.
  • The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown. This classic story follows a little bunny who finds a blue egg and begins to wonder about all the wonderful things that might be inside. With colorful illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Leonard Weisgard, and a playful and endearing story by the legendary Margaret Wise Brown, this is a well loved Easter read that children will enjoy.

 

  • It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny by Marilyn Sadler. P.J. Funnybunny is tired of cooked carrots and his big ears. It would be way more fun to be a bear, a bird, or a pig…right? Read along as P.J. leaves home and tries to determine who he is—and where he belongs. But this bunny might just learn that all he wants to be is…himself!
Smitcreation.com

BOOKS ABOUT PASSOVER: APRIL 6 – 13, 2023. In Judaism, Passover commemorates the story of the Israelites’ departure from slavery in Ancient Egypt when Moses parted the Red Sea. It is the most widely celebrated Jewish holiday. The Passover holiday celebrates spring, rebirth, and the journey from slavery to freedom. It also emphasizes responsibility for oneself, the community, and the world at large. 

  • What is Passover by Harriet Ziefert. Help Jake and his family prepare for a special family seder in this holiday lift-the-flap book about Passover.
  • Grover and Big Bird’s Passover Celebration by Ellen Fischer.  Grover and Big Bird are in a hurry to get to the Passover seder, but—uh, oh!—there are many delays. Moishe Oofnik comes to the rescue in his tumbledown truck, but will they arrive in time to ask the Four Questions?
  • Is it Passover Yet? by Chris Barash. It’s time to clean the house, set out our best dishes, and fill our homes with food and family to celebrate the joyous holiday of Passover! In this sweet story, join one family as they gather with loved ones to share the joy of togetherness and freedom that Passover brings.

SONGS:

MUSIC AND THE BRAIN: Music Stimulates 9 Parts of the Brain. Music is such an important part of every culture around the world that no one can argue with the impact or benefits of music.  But what this infographic illustrates so vividly are those specific parts of the brain that are affected. There are nine parts of the brain that are stimulated while playing and listening to music. Introduce children to different cultures, rituals and religions through song. Remember, Music is culture. It has a unique message and defines who we are as a collective people allowing us to speak a universal language. When we communicate through music, it is unbiased, peaceful, and serene. There is no force of who or how things should be, just a free form of expression. It explains and supports the culture of all students.

kindermusik.com

VAISAKHI

PASSOVER

RAMADAN

EASTER

www.gryphonhouse.com

2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩

RAMADAN ACTIVITIES: 

Jagran English
  • Create Suncatcher Arabic-inspired Lanterns to celebrate Ramadan. Sing Ramadan Moon; Read Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns and then have children create these lanterns. Ask children to draw 2 lanterns on black paper and glue coloured tissue to create suncatcher lanterns. If your children need cutting practice, download this template of a lantern.  (earlyyearsresources.co.uk)
  • In celebration of Ramadan, create a tree of good deeds. Have children find a branch from your nature walk and then attach “leaves” showing how they have been kind and helped others. Children can also cut a tree, brainstorm good deeds and print them on their leaves. Find further instructions for the Good Deeds Tree.

VAISAKHI ACTIVITIES:

Khalsa Qualities: 

Daya – Kindness. 

Sharam- Fairness.

Himmat – Courage. 

Mohkem – Determination.

Sahib – Strength.

QuotesGram.com

EASTER ACTIVITIES: Egg-cellent Activities and Decorating Easter Eggs:  Eggs are a symbol of new life and fertility. The tradition of painting and decorating eggs is one of the most popular activities for celebrating Spring and Easter. The following are several ways for children to decorate eggs.

  • Create Chalk Pastel Easter Eggs This chalk pastel Easter egg art is fun and colorful using chalk pastels on black paper. Using white glue to draw in the Easter egg designs, it acts as a barrier and helps to keep the pastel colors separate.
Dreamstime.com

3. Explore, Engage & Interact together 🌍

Cultural Diversity recognizes and respects the existence and presence of diverse groups of people within a society. It values their socio-cultural differences and encourages each individual to celebrate it. An environment with diverse cultures also inspires everyone within the society to make significant contributions to empower their cultural identity as well as others’. More importantly, cultural diversity education at home or school ensures students understand and are respectful of other cultures. When diversity is taught early in their lives, students are less likely to discriminate or be bigoted. They’re able to communicate and interact with people of any background or culture.

RAMADAN ACTIVITIES: 

VAISAKHI ACTIVITIES:

  • Download a variety of activities in the Countdown to Vaisakhi resource booklet – check the last page for links for many downloadables. 

PASSOVER ACTIVITIES:

EASTER ACTIVITIES:

4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭

MOVEMENT: Movement can immediately improve mood and give more energy, in very small doses – as little as three minutes! Exercise changes the physical structure of the brain in a way that makes children more resilient to stress and more responsive to joy and social connection. Regular movement, for 20 minutes or more per day, actually alters the chemistry of the brain and has long-term impacts on resiliency and positivity.

NutritionSolutionLifestyle.com

NUTRITION: Encouraging children to take a more active role in choosing, preparing and cooking simple meals can help them eat a wider variety of foods. It’s a fun way to introduce new ingredients and encourages little ones to explore unknown tastes, smells or textures. While you’re cooking, let your child hold the ingredients, talk about where they came from and discuss how you think the recipe will turn out. The more familiar children are with ingredients and the more they feel involved in the process, the more likely they are to eat the food at the end. Cooking can also be a time for other learning: try reading the numbers in the recipe and on the scales together for some early math practice or encourage older ones to estimate what might be ‘too little’ or ‘too much’ as you weigh things out.

PASSOVER RECIPES:

RAMADAN RECIPES:

VAISAKHI RECIPES:

  • To celebrate Vaisakhi involve children in creating these kid-friendly dishes:
    • Grilled Chicken Tikka – children can assist by measuring, combining ingredients and then putting the chicken pieces onto the skewers.

EASTER RECIPES:

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning 💭

sikhpa.com

The Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade is one of the largest Sikh parades in the world. Attendees of all races and cultures are welcome at this celebratory and rich cultural event, which features a large number of floats, community performers and live music. Vancouver’s Vaisakhi Parade also features a unique element which pays tribute to the harvest celebration roots of the parade – attendees are given free food and drink from hundreds of local residents and businesses.