Get to know me - What is life in Saudi like for an expat? (Part 1)

What is it like living in Saudi Arabia, or rather what is it like living in Saudi Arabia as a British Muslim expat? Well I moved to the capital city, Riyadh back in 2011, when they had already established a well built city and still a lot of construction for taller buildings, businesses and housing still under way. And let me tell you there is a lot of construction everywhere every side road is full of rubble or construction vehicles parked up on the street ready to work and dig up some roads.

So a little bit of background before we came to Saudi.

My First Counting Book - Allah Created Everything

My First Counting Book - Allah Created Everything

Cross curricula: Let's Learn about our Creator and Numbers

This project brings back fond memories. This book was our first home education project myself and my daughter did together, when she was 3 years old. It all started in Riyadh, when myself and a dear friend of mine who had a sweet son close in age as my DD had the resolve to officially start home schooling our children together, we were both newbies to teaching young children. She had experience in teaching Arab university students and I had experience in teaching year 5 girls, but this was not the same!!

Arabic Sight Words Workbook

Learn Arabic Sight Words week-by-week

An easy system of teaching the most common 100 Quranic words to set the stage for reading success and memorization of the Quran. 

IMPROVE Arabic reading skills

Aids Quran memorization

10 week by week lessons

89 pages

Reproducible flashcards

Sight words reading tests

Completion certificate award

My Place in the World Craft

My Place in the World Craft Activity

As part of our geography unit KS1, DD5 learnt our place in the world. She understood we lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and her Grandma and Granddad lived in England, she understood we all lived on Earth and Earth is within our solar system which is a part of many solar systems in this greater universe, which is part of our Creator's grand design and He is above all that which He has created. This was a far cry from when DD was 3 and she firmly believed that the sun and the moon were in the sky and nothing went further then what her eyes saw. 

DIY Landforms and Bodies of Water

Discovering more about our planet engages the child to want to know more about their surroundings and where they live, my children are fascinated with the world around them and I wanted to teach them more about our beautiful planet, that our Creator made for us. Continuing with our Geography Unit, after learning about the Seven Continents, we started our next project of learning about Land forms and bodies of water that are naturally occurring on the Earth.

Montessori Seven Continents (inc. FREE Printable)

Geography

Montessori The Seven Continents

(keep reading to claim you free 3 part cards)

Recently we have started a new project covering the seven continents. We started off learning about the names, facts and identifying where it is on the map. I set up an area for the work to be displayed and easily referenced. We used the Montessori Seven Continents colors;

North America = Orange

South America = Pink

Africa = Green

Europe = Red

Asia = Yellow

Australia = Brown

Antarctica = White 

Who said learning isn't fun. DD5 and DS3 learning about the seven continents with playdough.

This is how we introduced the unit by learning the Seven continents song and then using a laminated world map and rolling and shaping out Play-dough onto each continent all the whilst singing the song.

The Lyrics to the Montessori Seven Continent Song is;

Teach Your Child to Read Arabic in 10 Easy Lessons

How to Teach Your Child to Read Arabic Second Edition

by Umm Sumayyah Quan

Back when my DD was the tender age of 3, we were at the beginning of our homeschooling journey, most of the resources we were using were sensorial and hands on material, and we barely did any book work. So, it was a difficult adjustment to learn Arabic with only using a book, and not all that appealing for a 3 year old. It was a challenge to get her excited about the subject let alone engage her to want to learn which was the main battle. Albeit we were learning Arabic as a second language, I knew my DD was capable since she had learnt how to read English within 3 to 4 months of using the Montessori method and following the Jolly Phonics program. But because of the lack of resources and variety available to learn how to read the Arabic Language as compared to learning how to read English, we weren't progressing as well. Having learning aids and tools really does help speed the process along and create a good understanding of what is to be taught at hand. 

Multiplication Flowers (FREE Printable)

Multiplication Learning Aid

multiplication flowers 
on my classroom wall display

When introducing simple multiplication to my DD5, I had spent the previous year just working on skip counting in 2s, 5s, and 10s until she knew it well and had mastered it. Then when I felt that she was ready and needed a step up, I had researched creative learning materials for multiplication, and one that stood out was multiplication flowers, they looked pretty and was a hit for my very girly daughter. So I DIY'ed them with pen and colored paper and this is how they turned out;

Montessori Number Cards (FREE Printable)

Learning 123's

In English And Arabic

Cards and Counters Activity Cards

DS3 using montessori number activity

These cards can be used with Montessori materials. All you need to do is print out on A3 paper, cut and laminate. You will also need 45 counters (chips, buttons, etc.)

Demonstration

1. Begin with number one, explaining that one counter is the same as the symbol for number one.

My Hifdh Chart, Juz Amma Progress Chart (FREE Printable)

Love of The Quran

Sumayyah's Hifdh Chart

I am sure for every Muslim homeschooler, they want for their child to instill a deep unshakeable love for Islam, Allah, the religion, prophet Muhammad SAW and the Quran. Through learning about this everyday it will shape your child's character and develop a strong relationship with our Lord.