Ramadan: The Pool of Paradise

This is a project for celebrating the month of Ramadan with children.  We have selected a story to teach the purpose of fasting as a method to develop mastery over the nafs or ego.

The narrative is based on the Conference of the Birds.  Each day we will read the story of one bird and their struggle.  In this way we hope to help children understand the difficult spiritual practice of fasting and why the adults in their lives are embracing this struggle.  

  
 In the original story the birds are seeking their true leader, a bird called the Simourgh.  At the end of the story they do not exactly find this mythical bird but they do look into The Pool of Paradise and experience fannah.  For the purposes of this project when the birds reach the pool they do not see their own reflections but the reflection the Simourgh in the water.  
  There will be an episode for each bird and each bird medallion will have a slice of the moon representing the day of Ramadan that we have reached.  

  
  

 The seven valleys are at the end and these episodes can be read as part of the Eid celebration and the following 6 days of Shawal with your children.

 
If you would like to follow along the episodes will be posted daily during Ramadan and you are welcome to print the bird medallions and add them to any format you would like for the concept.  We have used a canvas with the pool surrounded by the 7 valleys.   

The canvas was primed with white tempra paint and the composition is tempra and watercolour paint.  The medallions are made of watercolour paper and painted with watercolour paint and attached to the canvas with double facing tape.  

Please share your ideas for teaching children about the rites of Ramadan.  

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