Explore Muslim Holidays With Ramadan Activities

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a holy time for Muslims. It’s marked by fasting, reflection, and family gatherings. These Ramadan activities help you bring the holiday into the classroom using Newsela resources that engage students in ELa and social studies while exploring cultural perspectives and traditions.

Jump to:

• Teach Ramadan through ELA activities
• Teach Ramadan through social studies activities

[Teach Ramadan through ELA activities](id-ela)

Key takeaways:

• Students can explore diverse perspectives on Ramadan through literature.
• Writing and reflection activities help students connect with cultural experiences.
• Newsela ELA provides ready-to-use resources for lesson planning and differentiation.

How can students explore Ramadan through literature?

Students can understand the significance of Ramadan by reading stories that show real-life and fictional celebrations. These texts help students see how fasting, reflection, and family traditions shape daily life during Ramadan. Use the following lesson to guide learning:

• Watch an interactive video to build background knowledge about the holiday.
• Read “Gifts of Ramadan” by Kim Ellis and discuss self-control and character development.
• Write a poem from Asef’s perspective, inspired by the story, to encourage empathy and creative thinking. 

What cultural traditions can students learn from Ramadan?

Exploring religious and cultural traditions helps students understand the meaning of “tradition” and the ways people celebrate holidays worldwide. Use articles on topics like:

• Definitions of the terms “customs” and “traditions.”
• The challenges of breaking the daily Ramadan fast.
• How interfaith families celebrate various religious holiday traditions in their homes.

[Teach Ramadan through social studies activities](id-ss)

Key takeaways:

• Students can learn about Ramadan and its historical significance in a global context.
• Comparing religious holidays helps students identify similarities and differences.
• Newsela Social Studies provides articles, multimedia, and activities for all grade bands.

How do people celebrate Ramadan around the world?

Students can examine how people in different countries observe Ramadan. Support exploration of global culture with the following lesson:

• Introduce the Islamic faith and the Prophet Muhammad to build background knowledge and give historical context.
• Read about Muslim family routines of fasting, prayer, and reflection during Ramadan.
• Discover how a Michigan TikTok star’s Ramadan recipe videos show modern cultural expressions of the holiday.

How does Ramadan compare to other spring holidays?

Comparing Ramadan with other spring religious holidays helps students recognize unique and shared elements among them. Guide students through this interactive group project to deepen their understanding:

• Study Passover, Easter, and Ramadan to explore similarities and differences.
• Work in jigsaw groups to research a holiday and create a presentation.
• Share presentations with the class to encourage discussion and questions.

What can students learn about Islamic culture and history?

Understanding the broader Islamic culture helps students see the global impact of this religion and holidays like Ramadan. Teach students about historical events and contemporary life in the religion with texts on topics like:

• The spread of Islam in Africa and its cultural influence.
• Common beliefs among Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
• The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Teach spring holidays across subjects with Newsela

Newsela’s knowledge- and skill-building products offer tools to plan lessons for Ramadan and other spring holidays. Use these resources to introduce students to different cultures, connect with their own experiences, and bring empathy into your classroom.

Sign up for Newsela Lite and get a 45-day free trial of all our premium and differentiated content and activities to help you plan more exciting activities all school year.