This week’s topic in Playgroup was Shelters and Homes. Different types of
shelters and homes for people and animals were discussed throughout the week.
The weeks activities and discussions culminated in a visit to the loftiest of homes,
Burhani Mahal.
On Friday March 14, children went to Burhan Mahal, where our Aqa Moula TUS
lives and give blessings to mumineen.
Children took a plant for small hadiya to present Aqa Maula TUS which is now
hanging in the garden of Gurfah Mubarak. Children did sajda and recited marsiyah
and shahadat of Imam Hussain AS in Aqa Moula’s Bethak Mubarak.
Kids observed the beautiful gardens and pet shelters and fed the pigeons too.
Children received the sharaf to kiss bethak of Aqa Moula TUS. The children were
given salawat milk as they were leaving. One child excitedly told his mother,
“Maula gave me a gift!”
By integrating our cultural values and traditions, children were made aware of our
uniqueness as a community. What unites us all together is our love for our Aqa
Maula Mufaddal Maula TUS. We have the shelter of his blessings over our heads
which protects us from harm.
Other activities that the children did related to the topic, Shelters and Homes:
camping (in the school premises)
videos on animal shelters
Mumin nu ghar (discussion)
Walk around the school to observe shelters (peoples’ homes, bird nests,
anthills, etc)
On Friday, 11th February 2022, the Pre-primary children presented a unique sports event in the Jamea ground. The theme of the event was taken from Kalemaat Nooraniyah:
چھو unique تمیں
It was a display of what makes us unique as a community; like Faiz-ul-Mawaid-il Burhaniyyah, libas-ul-anwer, Qarzan hasana, saying Bismillah on fish and 100% vaccination. An example of how the children displayed these concepts is the Ashara Ohbat race. The children ran with their small Ashara backpacks striving to reach the majlis before time. In the Hifz Amma Sanad race, the children crossed stages in hifz by collecting stars until they finally reached their destination.
The children also displayed their unique abilities as they proudly flaunted their ‘I am Badrian, I am Unique’ costumes. The spectacular P.T. drills were a showcase of their discipline, teamwork and physical development through synchronized movements with the music and drumbeat.
The most remarkable segments of the event were the Playgroup Obstacle Path and Unplugged Coding by Seniors. An obstacle track was created with tires, rings, cones, tables and chairs. The children were expected to walk, jump, balance, turn somersaults and pass from under the table on all fours. It was a delight to watch the little two-year-olds overcome the obstacles with confidence just like our love for our Maula TUS helps us overcome all obstacles in life.
The unplugged coding was created on a huge grid and the coders followed a set of commands to make a square and a diamond on the grid. The coders exhibited their critical thinking skills as they physically demonstrated how coding and programming through a computer works. When instructions are followed perfectly, the results are incredible, just as when we follow Aqa Maula’s farmaan, we receive incredible returns, here and in the hereafter.
In keeping with the theme of ‘unique’, the program started with tilawat by the nine Amma sanad holders of Juniors and Seniors and the entire Dua was led by the Juniors. The national anthem was played by the grade IV flute band which comprised of boys and girls. Both the fact that they are very young children and that the band includes girls is a first-time occurrence. It was a uniquely sublime experience to listen to the sweetly played anthem by the young flute band.
The event ended with the medal-giving ceremony to the winners of the races.
We thank Janab Amil-saheb-Al-mohallat-ul- Burhaniyah, Mustansir Bhaisahab and Baisahaba for gracing the event with their presence. We also thank Janab Adam Bhaisahab and Baisaheba who are our esteemed parents as well.
Physical education is an important part of the holistic development of the child. Rapid growth and development take place in the early years and it is vital that children are provided with a suitable environment. Opportunities to flex their physical and mental muscles through competition and collaboration allow children to thrive.
May our children flourish under the benevolent shade of Aqa Maula TUS.
Saturday, 30th November 2019 was a perfect day for celebrations. It was cold enough to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and peanuts around a bonfire and yet the sun shone merrily enough to take delight in the cool breeze.
Badri High School arranged for the students of Pre-Primary to spend a day with their grandparents. Together, grandparents and grandchildren had to complete 10 activities before they could move towards the Fun Area where a roaring bonfire beckoned them with roasted peanuts and hot chocolate and some bubble-blowing fun as well.
The activities showcased a mixture of Tarbiyat and Taleem as children did salam and massaged their grandparents feet in one area and read a book together in another. The handprints frame was a cherished souvenir while the circle of love and rings game got the old and the young walking, hopping and jumping together. The grandmas enjoyed weaving and grandpas enjoyed building with blocks. The fishing game was fun and they all wished they could take the fishes home. Their milad cards were collected by Taalebaat from Al-Jamea-tus-Saifiyah to be displayed in Masjid. It was endearing to watch the grandparents make sure to get their activity sheets stamped at every area.
Guests from an NGO based school were overwhelmed by the hospitality they received, especially when each grandma and grandchild pair was given their photograph as a souvenir. Janab Amilsaheb and UmmeAiman Bensaheba graciously accepted our invitation and spent time with their grandchildren and did many activities together. Our chairman Janab Naeem Bhaisaheb was missing his granddaughter very much and has promised to come back with her when she comes to Karachi.
Parent-child-school make a triangle but when grandparents enter the equation, it becomes a circle of love.
The new academic year 2019-20 is a year of new beginnings in the Pre-Primary Section. With expansion in the infra-structure, renovation in the interior decor, the introduction of exciting co-curricular activities, a strong team and a new batch of little children as unique and inimitable as they always are, the BHS Pre-Primary is all set on the high road to success.
The New Playgroup: An Enabling Environment
An enabling environment acts as the ‘Third Teacher’ for the child and enables them to create, build develop and reinforce their learning in an environment which is pleasing, invigorating, comforting and safe. It provides children with opportunities to learn individually and socially even when there is no explicit teaching. The Activity room fulfils this need for the students of the Pre-Primary Section. The two and a half years old children of Playgroup want a play experience that would cater to their needs exclusively, and this was achieved by bringing it into the Playgroup classroom. This classroom will incorporate an outdoor area as well where children will be able to experience a wholesome outdoor experience.
A second room for Playgroup B is under construction. We look forward to welcoming a new batch of students as soon as it is complete.
Robotics in Seniors
The Seniors will have a one-hour Robotics session every week in which they will work with Lego WeDo 2.0 to construct and program their minibots. Their first project is construction of a fan and programming it to rotate at different settings. Our little stemmers are excited! And so are we! The Team Triangle
The orientation on Saturday served as a platform for parents and teachers to get to know each other and share and discuss important aspects of their child’s respective grade in the year that lies ahead. With a strong team triangle of passionate parents, dedicated teachers and the most amazing children, we anticipate great feats from little hands.
The Year Ahead
The first week of school began with brand new belongings and books, some screams and sobs, meeting old friends and getting to know new teachers and peers in a new room. As the first week comes to an end, the rest of the term now begins with well-settled children who are ready to play and learn and laugh and make strong connections of learning in their minds and unbreakable bonds of friendship in their hearts.
The age of five plus is that age where child is open for new things to explore and to learn; whether it’s language or basic concepts of math or taking part in role play. Taking advantage of this learning opportunity we took the initiative to start mind math in Senior. Although we are using conventional methods for addition and subtraction which includes signs and conventional statements, we found that children are able to perform well in mind math too.
Mental math does not only help in solving sums, it also gives a chance to children to understand pattern. They focus on listening to instructions as in mind math there are no conventional signs for subtraction and addition. Their attention span increases and new words are incorporated in their vocabulary. Children use their imagination to solve sums and problems as it gives them the opportunity to challenge themselves. They enjoy mind math activities and that helps them build strong concepts and gain confidence. Once they understand the pattern and are able to comprehend new vocabulary, there is no turning back.
This is right age for children to start new concepts and broaden their learning horizon. As teachers our job is to create more opportunities for mind math in class for our young minds which makes our job simultaneously more interesting and more challenging.
It begins with the first scribble that the child identifies as ‘me’. Gradually, as a child’s concepts grow with exposure, his vocabulary expands, and his observation becomes sharper, ‘me’ develops from a scribble to a figure with recognisable features and painstaking detail: ‘me’ might now be wearing a frilly pink frock which ‘papa brought from Dubai’ or have a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses perched on her nose or may be playing cricket with his brothers.
As the child learns to read and begins to write, ‘me’ is represented with ‘I like to wear my pink dress’, or ‘I like to play cricket with my bhai’ using invented spelling.
The more passionate writers also develop the ability to write stories with characters, problems and solutions and create suspense too!
The world of reading and writing beckons them. And it all begins with a scribble that the child identifies as ‘me’.
The stage was set on Friday, 15th March in the BHS Astroturf ground for the little Playgroup students. The tiny glittering stars on a pitch black backdrop behind the stage looked inviting. Children were going to present a mini stage-show for their parents. They had been preparing for more than a month and they were excited in anticipation of the performance. Their teachers were just as excited as this was the first time the Playgroup students were going to perform on stage in a show which was wholly presented by them.
Two children began with tilawat and then Khadija ben led the gathering to Recite Marsiyah of Imam Hussain A.S.
Playgroup A children then came on stage resplendent in their pink and black dresses with pink star headbands and golden pom-poms. They performed to the action song ‘Wiggle your fingers, blink your eyes……shake your hands, shake, shake, shake”. Very soon they had their parents wiggling, blinking and shaking with them!
Playgroup B came on stage to perform on the all-time favourite song ‘If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands’. They displayed their joy by clapping their hands, stamping their feet, slapping their thighs and finally waving their hands to say goodbye. They were a treat to watch in their bright red and white dresses, happy-face headbands and shiny red and silver pom-poms.
The best was for the last: the immensely popular ‘Baby Shark’! Both classes came up on stage while their parents crowded around them, mobile phones in hand, taking pictures and shooting videos of their little darlings.
It was by no means a small feat to get almost 60 little ones between 2-3 years old on stage performing in front of an audience. In some cases, it took a lot of coaxing and cajoling to get the children to even wear any kind of costume, headgear or pom-poms. Kudos to the Playgroup teachers!
It begins with the realisation that those straight and squiggly lines have some meaning.
The child then begins to decode the meaning of each squiggle. He can now understand that the sounds that he uses while talking correspond to a special symbol.
As he journeys deeper into the wonderland of reading, he learns to string the sounds and squiggles to make words which have meaning.
With stars in his eyes, he discovers that he can read!
He can read words!
He can read a series of words put together!
He can understand what all those wonderful words are trying to tell him!
This journey from squiggle to understanding to creating one’s own story has the potential to become a journey of love and reverence or a tedious task and a burden depending on how the child is exposed to it.
We want to make sure reading and writing become a lifelong passion for our students. For that:
We’ve introduced DEAR Time for our Juniors and Seniors during Circle time during which students and teachers all sit down with a book to read quietly.
The students are taking home a book in their library folder every weekend. They look forward to Friday to see which book they will get this time in their library folder. Of course, the child’s preference is also taken into account.
The Reading Day program with parents is running successfully with parents coming to read for pleasure with their children. We see parents just as enthusiastic about reading as the little ones.
The Reading Competition in Juniors and Seniors motivated the students to read. It was very difficult for our judges to crown the Reader of the Year. A tie-breaker round decided the winner in Seniors while the Junior winner won by a mere half point!
The love for reading has now begun to translate into creating picture stories by Juniors while the Seniors have embarked on a simultaneous journey of using words and sentences with invented spelling to write their own stories. Being able to read their story during assembly provides extrinsic motivation to the children to continue writing.
Story writing has become so popular in the Seniors that now we have to limit them to one turn per week for reading during assembly! Some of the passionate writers have also become proficient in creating a mind map, others can join together two sentences with and and but, and still others can write stories with a beginning, middle and end. The children are already displaying a glimpse of their own unique writing styles.
We wish the children all the best in their reading and writing. They have their eyes on the stars! For us, they are the stars!
Sorting and matching of colours is simple to set up and will arouse child’s curiosity to play and have fun.
It is a great activity to develop fine motor control, coordination, concentration and learning about colours.
The Playgroup students can now recognize all colours . They are able to sort and match colours and shapes through different kinds of activities.
The caterpillar activity is one of them; in the beginning of the activity children tore red, blue and green coloured paper into small pieces. These bits of paper were set in a tray on the table. In the next process, I showed caterpillar to all children and told them, “this is a very hungry caterpillar and he wants to eat some food”. Will you help the caterpillar to fill his tummy?” Everyone replied, “Yes!”
I showed them the bits of paper and told them it was the caterpillar’s food. I then pointed to the three circles in his body, each a different colour and said that each circle wanted food matching to its colour. I instructed them to hunt for pieces of paper, sort, match and paste on the appropriate circle, for e.g. blue pieces of paper on blue circles.
The children moved around the classroom excitedly hunting, sorting, matching and finally pasting with glue to feed the caterpillar.
While feeding the hungry caterpillar, the children were able to satiate their need to explore, to compare & contrast, to problem solve and to learn with fun.
Such activities develop a range of thinking skills in young children and build the foundation of later concepts.
To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world. – Chinese Proverb
This Saturday saw the conclusion of the English Classes for Mothers which comprised of ten 1 1/2 hour sessions held every Saturday from 9:30-11:00 a.m. By giving the participants opportunities to speak in a variety of situations and in front of an audience, we sought to build their confidence in a language which they’re already quite familiar with.
One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way. – Frank Smith
Participants were also given opportunities to express their thoughts in English through reflections and story writing. They could further improve their language and build their vocabulary by issuing a book from the library every week.
The last class was special as each participant had prepared a two-minute speech which they delivered in front of the class. One participant shared that I had never dreamed that I would one day be standing in front of an audience and delivering a speech in English! Another shared how reading and watching English news channels helped to improve her English. Many others shared how the classes have helped to enhance their language, build their confidence and make friendships along the way.
Participants were then taken on a nostalgic journey back in time from the first class through photographs and video clips. Certificates were handed out and the final session closed with a party especially arranged for the mothers.
Considering the overwhelming response, we will announce registration for the second batch very soon, InshaAllah.
Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club – the community of speakers of that language. ‒Frank Smith
“Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here!”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
With the advent of the new year, music classes have been incorporated into the Pre-primary and Primary students’ weekly schedule. A specialized music teacher will come twice a week and students will be exposed to the different tunes and melodies with the help of the organ according to their grade level.
Our children are surrounded by music in their daily lives beginning from the melodious sound of Azaan as the day begins. The spirituality of Tilawat and Qasida infuses their minds and souls with the spiritual strength for learning. The inspiring notes and lyrics of the national anthem serve to foster patriotism in them. Throughout the day, they listen to and sing poems, clap and tap to a beat and observe and listen to sounds in their surroundings.
It has been proven that exposure to music from early childhood onward helps children to speak clearly, develop a larger vocabulary and strengthen social and emotional skills. The psychologist Howard Gardner stressed the importance of music intelligence as music has the ability to strengthen the connection between the body and brain to work together as a team.
“The piano keys are black and white but they sound like a million colors in your mind” –Maria Cristina Mena
Winter usually passes us by in Karachi with a quick nod. But this year it stopped to say hello and we, at the Badri Montessori, were prepared to welcome it in style!
Playgroup parents were invited with their children for the Winter Fiesta but the actual program was kept a surprise while the teaser videos, sent in the days preceding the event, added to the anticipation.
Friday, 14th December dawned with a chill in the wind-perfect weather for the winter fiesta! The parents and children arrived-dressed for the occasion in shawls, hoodies and sweaters- bought ‘tickets’ at the ticket booth and embarked on their train journey.
At ‘Hyderabad’, they visited the famous bangle bazaar and sorted bangles in creative designs.
The next stop was Multan where they helped wrap the famous Multani Halwa.
At Faisalabad, they were awed by the clock tower and tried to create a tower with blocks.
Kite-making in Lahore for the Basant season was so much fun!
They visited the Rose and Jasmine garden in Islamabad and made paper flowers.
The rest of the journey was completed by car and parents and children were greeted with a spray of snow as they entered Murree. They were served hot chocolate, peanuts and chocolate-dipped marshmallows, which they enjoyed around a roaring bonfire. Pictures and selfies were clicked with the snowman and the lovely train, while our music teacher added warmth to the chilly air with lovely music.
Sweeties in the jar sweeties in the jar
shake and rattle, shake and rattle
Sweeties in the jar
The term “design thinking” is frequently used in connection to STEM labs. However, design thinking is bigger than STEM. It begins when you tap into student curiosity and let them to create, test and re-create until they eventually transport what they made to a real audience. Design thinking isn’t a subject or a topic or a class. It’s more of a way of solving problems that encourages risk-taking and creativity.
In playgroup design thinking is about assuring the little ones that they can make a difference. Toddlers and preschoolers are naturally curious. They wonder about everything and their ways for problem solving are certainly unique and creative. By inviting these little people into the world of design thinking we are equipping them with a mindset that says: go ahead. Try out your ideas. And just do it. They are empathetic, resilient and caring for each other. Let’s see what happens when design thinking meets Playgroup.
The process started with the rhyme:
Jelly on a plate jelly on a plate
wibbly, wobbly, wibbly, wobbly
Jelly on a plate
Sausages in the pan sausages in the pan
Flip them over flip them over
Sausages in the pan
Sweeties in the jar sweeties in the jar
shake and rattle, shake and rattle
Sweeties in the jar.
Teacher showed them the shake and rattle toy and everyone wanted to play with that toy. On being told that they couldn’t play with it as it belonged to someone else, the children collectively passed through a range of emotions beginning from being upset about it. They were no longer interested in all the class toys placed in front of them. At this moment teacher raised a driving question “We don’t have our own shake and rattle toys in our classroom. That’s a problem. What can we do”? Various responses came up. “You give us.” “I’ll go to Bacha Party and buy from there.” Then teacher asked them “Can we can make our own toy?” They were amazed and replied, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Through this process children passed through four stages of “FIDS”, FEEL, IMAGINE, DO & SHARE”.
Children used different objects for creating the sound in their shake and rattle toy and decorated it. They were happy to play with those toys. The class resonated with the buzz and rattle of our newly made shakers as the children shook their toys with all the might in their little arms.
It was almost nine o’clock on Saturday 10th November 2018. A little three-year old tugged excitedly at her Grandpa’s hand as she led him through the school gates. “This is my school, Dada. And that window over there, that is my class!” She gushed animatedly as she took him towards the ground. Other children and their grandparents started coming and very soon it was time to begin the Grandparents Day program.
After Tilawat-ul-Quran and matam, the children stood up and did salaam to their Grandparents and presented them with a lovely bookmark they had made themselves. The grandparents then made a flower craft from their grandchild’s handprint and then both posed for a photograph.
After that, they all participated in a fun game called ‘Four Corners’. The winners were presented with gifts. A salad buffet was prepared and the grandparents and children enjoyed a bowl of healthy and delicious salad together.
The grandparents left with a smile and lovely memories, hand-in-hand with their grandchildren. A day well-spent, indeed!
Around the world, Father’s Day is celebrated on different days throughout the year. It is a celebration of the bonds of love and respect between father and son/daughter. BHS Juniors planned a grand program on Saturday, 3rd November 2018, to celebrate Father’s Day in school. Junior fathers were invited to come and spend a fun-filled hour with their children in the school ground.
The juniors could hardly contain their excitement as they walked in the class on Saturday morning. They all wanted to tell the teacher that their father was coming to school today!
At nine, fathers started to arrive and took their seats with their children. The program began with Tilawat beautifully recited by Ruqaiya Hussain from Junior A followed by Matam and wazifatushukr. Marsia was recited by a team of students from Junior B.
Fathers were then asked to estimate the number of sweets on the car, write their answer on a post-it and put it in the basket. There was surprise gift for the best answer.
It was then time for the Papa shoe race. Children stood at the starting line wearing their father’s shoes and waiting for the signal. It was an effort to run in the big shoes and the children struggled happily amid excited cheering by the fathers. The children’s level of excitement can be gauged from this comment by a little girl: “Teacher, please call my mummy next time.I want to run in her heels also.”
After the race, each father and child team made a crown for each other while the music teacher entertained the gathering with lovely music. Each father-child duo had their photograph taken in the beautiful frame prepared especially for the event.
Gifts were given to winners of the Papa shoe race and Aliasghar Shk. Huzaifa’s father received the sweet-studded car for the closest guess.
Souvenirs help revive memories long after the event and the Junior fathers are always going to remember this day when they use the keychain lovingly presented to them by their children.
One four-year-old was so overwhelmed by the program that he commented: “One day, I will also come as a father for the program in my big car.”
He seemed to be as enamoured by the ‘car’ theme as by the program in general!
As the program came to an end, fathers sipped a much-needed cup of coffee while listening to appreciative remarks by others.
Mothers and family members who watched the live streaming of the program appreciated the effort and felt as if they were a part of the program as well.
Thank you, fathers. You deserve equal credit for the success of BHS Juniors Father’s Day Program.
Imagine yourself in a strange place, surrounded by strange people who speak a language other than your own.
Does it sound like something out of a story book?
Wrong.
Now add to this the fact that your loved ones take you by the hand and leave you there.
How would you feel?
This is more or less what each of our tiny tots felt on the first day of school. They expressed their fear and frustration of their unknown surroundings the way they knew best: crying.
Our teachers were prepared for all eventualities. They had name badges ready at the gate and as soon as a child came in, they pinned it to his pocket. Most children had to be carried to the class as they struggled to run back to their parents. Other teachers pitched in to help with the struggling tots.
In the classroom, the teachers got down to the task with incredible calm and patience. Their soothing voice and calm demeanor gradually pacified the young ones until most of them were willing to settle down and play with the toys or participate in singing rhymes. Some of them though, kept crying at intervals as the memory of their surroundings resurfaced.
Soon, the hour was up and the teachers went around sorting bags, caps, scarves and water-bottles, checking for labels and helping children wear their backpacks.
They took the children to the gates and as each child spotted his parent(s) his face broke into a smile of recognition and relief as he ran towards outstretched arms.
A week has gone by and the children have now begun to recognize the school environment, the teachers and the other children. This sense of familiarity and routine has gradually increased their level of comfort. Most of them are now coming with a smile and have begun to enjoy time spent in school. Some of them have also started coming by the school van.
But as much as they enjoy school, at the end of the day, the little ones all look forward to going home to be greeted with a smile and a hug by the most beloved people in their lives.
