Mountains: Pegs of the Earth

**Link to the worksheet that complements this lesson is provided at the end of this post*

One notable theme that we often find in the Quran is the theme of geology.  The gem we’re about to look at today will take us on a journey to understand the importance of one of nature’s greatest elements that act as pegs which stabilize the Earth’s crust, keeping it steady and secure.

In Surah An-Naba (78:6-7), Allah SWT mentions, 

أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَلِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِهَٰدًا

Have We not made the earth a resting place?

وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَوۡتَادًا

And the mountains as pegs?

Imagine the Earth as a colossal jigsaw puzzle, with its pieces constantly moving and shifting. But how does our planet maintain its stability despite this continuous motion? The Quran provides us with the answer – mountains.

Mountains are formed when massive tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s surface collide or slide against each other. These powerful forces cause the Earth’s crust to buckle and fold, leading to the formation of majestic mountain ranges.

Mountains act as natural anchors, preventing the crust from trembling or shaking excessively. Just like pegs secure a tent, mountains secure the Earth’s surface.

When tectonic plates collide, enormous pressure builds up along the collision zone. Mountains form in these areas, absorbing and distributing the stress caused by the plates’ movement. This phenomenon is similar to how a shock absorber in a car helps in reducing the impact of bumps on the road. Mountains absorb the Earth’s internal forces, thereby preventing violent shaking and minimizing the impact of earthquakes.

As we explore the Quran, we discover its profound wisdom regarding the stability of our planet. The mention of mountains as anchors in the Quran sheds light on the Earth’s dynamic nature. 

Nature is truly a vast book waiting to be explored. Keep seeking knowledge and nurturing your curiosity!

A great way for learners to engage in this topic is by completing the worksheet that can be downloaded here. It’s suitable for primary learners (Grades 3 – 5) as well as homeschoolers.

Allah SWT made iron soft for him!

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  Picture: Wikimedia Commons (Author: Joanbanjo)
  

Many kids nowadays are all too familiar with fictional “superhero” stories – typically, these “superheroes” are characters who have so-called extraordinary abilities or “superpowers”.

In reality, however, in the Quran Allah SWT tells us true stories about real human beings who were blessed with many special, extraordinary abilities! Yes, these are all clearly mentioned in the Quran.

Let’s take a look at one very interesting example presented in verses 10-11 of Surah Saba’:

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا ۖ يَـٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِى مَعَهُۥ وَٱلطَّيْرَ ۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلْحَدِيدَ

And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], “O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well].” And We made pliable for him iron, (Saba’: 10)

اَنِ اعۡمَلۡ سٰبِغٰتٍ وَّقَدِّرۡ فِى السَّرۡدِ وَاعۡمَلُوۡا صَالِحًـا ؕ اِنِّىۡ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِيۡرٌ

[Commanding him], “Make full coats of mail and calculate [precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing.” (Saba’: 11)

Iron, as most of us know, is considered one of the world’s strongest types of metal. This is why it is a common choice for weaponmakers throughout history. We also know that hard, heavy metals don’t bend or melt easily. Iron has to be melted at a very, very high temperature and different tools are usually needed to bend and shape this very strong metal.

However, by the Will of Allah SWT, the iron became soft for Prophet Dawud a.s that he was able to simply flex it with his bare hands!

In verse 11, Allah SWT commanded Prophet Dawud a.s to make full coats of mail. This refers to the chain mail armour, a type of armour that consists of small metal rings that are linked together so that it forms a protective mesh when it is worn. It is lighter and more flexible than the plate armour. This makes it a reliable means of defense that gives protection against slashes and piercings in combat.

Allah SWT did not just make the iron soft for Prophet Dawud a.s, He also taught Prophet Dawud a.s how to put it together by making precise calculation of the links.

What is the wisdom and significance behind this?

The effectiveness and resistance of the chain mail armour depend on several factors such as weave density and the measurement of the metal rings. Also, the metal rings of the chain mail armour have to be firmly linked in such a way that the armour would be firm, yet still flexible. Therefore, the rivets cannot be too loose (that the rings would move and shake) or too tight. In fact, if you actually read about the process of making the chain mail armour, you will see that it requires effort and precision. Nevertheless, Allah SWT has granted Prophet Dawud a.s with the amazing ability to make this useful device with his own hands.

The chainmail armour continued to be worn as body armour by soldiers throughout history.

Activity suggestion: 

>> Search for pictures of different chain mail armour worn by soldiers throughout history, such as during the Mamluk Period, Ottoman Empire and Mughal rule. 

>> The use of chain mail has evolved from being used mainly in warfare to being utilized for other purposes in the modern times. What are some modern uses of chain mail today?

The miracle and science of bird flight

The sight of birds flying in the beautiful blue sky may be something that’s natural and common for many of us. But not very often do we pause and think: how do birds actually fly? It just seems so effortless, yet we humans can’t do the same!

In Surah Al-Mulk, verse 19, Allah says:

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍۢ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۭ بَصِيرٌ

“Have they not seen the birds above them, spreading and folding their wings? None holds them up except the Most Compassionate. Indeed, He is All-Seeing of everything.”

The mechanism behind bird flight is truly amazing.

Allah SWT has created birds with special characteristics that enable them to resist the force of gravity, and fly upward and forward. Birds have light, yet strong muscles in their wings. They also have what we call flight feathers. These flight feathers are typically long and strong. As the bird flaps its wings, these feathers push against the air. Birds flap their wings in a continuous flapping motion when they take off. Those who have read about aerodynamics might be able to relate this to the main forces involved in flight – lift (to move upward) and thrust (to move forward). The same forces apply in this case.

Another characteristic of the bird that enables it to fly in the air is its shape. A bird has a streamlined shape that makes it cut through the air easily, because of reduced air resistance. Their contour feathers are arranged in such a way that reduces friction to enable the bird to move forward with little effort.

You might have noticed that different types of birds fly differently. The way a bird flies is affected by the size and shape of the wings. Some birds can dart forward very fast. Others can glide in the air almost effortlessly, like an albatross. A hummingbird, on the other hand, can even stay in one place by beating its wings, very, very rapidly!

Do you know that a hummingbird can stay in one spot in the air by beating its wings between 12 to 90 beats per second?

Have you ever wondered how birds can change direction in the air mid-flight? This is largely due to the shape of the bird’s tail. The strong tail feathers actually help to the bird to maneuver in the direction that they’re flying to. They do this by twisting their tails when they fly.

The way that birds fly in accordance with the principles of aerodynamics is simply astonishing. Allah, Al-Musawwir (The Fashioner) has created and equipped flying birds with such incredible strength and abilities that enable them to fly in the most perfect manner.

Subhanallah!

Sleep and You: The Mercy Beyond Slumber

Getting a good night’s sleep after a long and exhausting day is something that everyone looks forward to. (I’m pretty sure you know how groggy and cranky some of us can be without enough sleep!)

The cessation of movement when we sleep means that the body can rest from all the moving and going about our daily lives. Imagine having to go through our daily routines – studying, working, sports practice, performing all sorts of activities – and not having the time to rest and rejuvenate at the end of the day. What a hard and unpleasant life that would be!

This is why sleep itself is actually a huge mercy from Allah SWT.

In Surah An-Naba’, Allah SWT says:

وَجَعَلْنَا نَوْمَكُمْ سُبَاتاً

“And We have made your sleep [a means for] rest.” (An-Naba’: 9)

A lot of research has been done by experts who have tried to understand the science of sleep and how it affects us. Sleeping is more than just about letting the body rest from physical activity. Do you know that your brain goes into “spring cleaning mode” when you go to sleep? After working so hard during the day processing all sorts of information, sleep allows the removal of toxins that tend to build up during the hours we are awake. Also, there’s an interesting link between getting enough sleep and its effects on the immune system, too. Researchers found that individuals who got better quality sleep were less likely to develop cold symptoms.

Sleep deprivation can have negative effects on our mood and concentration as well. You might find that you would feel more irritable if you have insufficient sleep (which would in turn affect your interaction with the people around you!). Not only that, it’s also harder to be alert, pay attention, memorize things, and solve problems when your mind is not fully rested.

Now we know that getting enough sleep means taking care of our physical and mental health, but we shouldn’t miss another very important point: that being healthy would ultimately help us perform our ‘ibaadah with better stamina and concentration, inshaAllah.

Sleepforkids.org has two interesting resources to help children learn and understand sleep better, the Sleep Diary (helps them track how much sleep they get, how they feel during the day, etc.) and Sleep Calculator. Nice way to get started on healthy bedtime habits! 😉

Also check out this page for different hands-on activities and experiments to explore the concept of circadian rhythm.

Last but definitely not least, make sure to read the wondrous story of the People of the Cave as told in Surah Al-Kahf and discover the extraordinary facts about their sleep! 🙂

Miracle in the ripening of fruits

When was the last time you ate a ripe, juicy, delicious fruit? Maybe you’ve eaten strawberries, oranges, pomegranates, or bananas recently?

Well, they do taste good for sure!

Many of us are blessed with the ease and convenience of getting fruits that are already ripe on our tables. Why do people prefer fruits that are ripe? Ripe fruits are usually sweeter, softer, and have a nicer smell. However, as we enjoy the pleasant taste of these different fruits, we often hardly give a thought about the actual process that takes place when fruits ripen.

Do you know that Allah SWT actually mentions ripening of the fruit as one of the signs that the believers should reflect on?

Let’s first look at the verse in the Quran where Allah mentions about this miracle:

وَهُوَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَنۡزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً​ ۚ فَاَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهٖ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ فَاَخۡرَجۡنَا مِنۡهُ خَضِرًا نُّخۡرِجُ مِنۡهُ حَبًّا مُّتَرَاكِبًا​ ۚ وَمِنَ النَّخۡلِ مِنۡ طَلۡعِهَا قِنۡوَانٌ دَانِيَةٌ وَّجَنّٰتٍ مِّنۡ اَعۡنَابٍ وَّالزَّيۡتُوۡنَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُشۡتَبِهًا وَّغَيۡرَ مُتَشَابِهٍ​ ؕ اُنْظُرُوۡۤا اِلٰى ثَمَرِهٖۤ اِذَاۤ اَثۡمَرَ وَيَنۡعِهٖ ؕ اِنَّ فِىۡ ذٰ لِكُمۡ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ يُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ‏ 

“And it is He who sent down water from the heavens, and thereby We have brought vegetation of every kind, and out of this We have brought forth green foliage and then from it close-packed ears of corn, and out of the palm-tree from the sheath of it – thick clustered dates, hanging down with heaviness, and gardens of vines, and the olive tree, and the pomegranate – all resembling one another and yet so different. Behold their fruit when they bear fruit and ripen! Surely, in all this there are signs for those who believe.“ (Al-An’am: 99)

Think about the differences between unripe vs. ripe fruits. You may notice some obvious changes that happen when fruits ripen – the color changes, they become softer, they produce a nicer smell, and last but not least, they also taste yummier!

So what’s actually happening during this period?

When a fruit starts to ripen, there’s a clever process taking place that breaks down the chlorophyll (the green pigment of the plant), and at this stage, other pigments start to develop. These other pigments give a fruit its new colour. Anthocynanin, for example, is the pigment that gives a fruit its red, blue, purple or black hue, such as in the case of blueberry and raspberry. Similarly, yellow, red, or orange colors are due to another pigment known as carotenoids. We can see this in pumpkins, carrots, and corns, for example. At the same time, there is an activity involving some enzymes that takes place in the cell walls of the fruit. This causes the cell walls to break down, and when this happens, the fruit becomes softer and more juicy.

But that’s not all!

During ripening, there is also a process that breaks down the starch content inside the fruit. While this happens, the amount of simple sugars (such as sucrose, glucose and fructose) also increases, which is what gives the fruit its yummy taste. In addition to the pleasant taste of the fruit, the plant releases some chemicals into the air, and this is why a ripe fruit smells nice.

Subhanallah, isn’t it amazing that all these clever processes can happen in even the tiniest of fruit by the will of Allah SWT?

This topic actually provides a great opportunity for children to practice their observational and experimental skills by following the different stages of fruits throughout the ripening process. They can also do their own further research on more questions related to this subject, for example:

• What is ethylene and what role does it play in the ripening process?
• Why do some fruits continue to ripen even after you picked them while others stop ripening after being picked? What are some examples of these?
• What is artificial ripening and what are the harmful effects of ripening fruits artificially?

Lastly, remember that this gradual process teaches children – and human beings in general – a very important, beautiful concept, which is patience! It’s a process that takes time, but one that is definitely worth the wait. 😉

Math secrets of the bee nest

Photo by mostafa eissa on Pexels.com

When we talk about great architecture, the first image that comes to mind is probably that of a beautiful man-made building or structure. But do you know that one of the most amazing structures with a very, very clever architecture can be found in the animal kingdom?

وَاَوۡحٰى رَبُّكَ اِلَى النَّحۡلِ اَنِ اتَّخِذِىۡ مِنَ الۡجِبَالِ بُيُوۡتًا وَّمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعۡرِشُوۡنَۙ‏

(Your Lord inspired the bee, saying, “Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees, and in that which they construct.”) – An-Nahl, 68

Allah SWT has guided the bee, with its amazing skills and faculties, to set up houses in the mountains, trees, and structures built by man. It is, therefore, no surprise that the bee nest construction is so precise. The internal structure of the nest is made up of solid hexagonal cells tightly linked together –  what we call the honeycomb, made from beeswax. These cells serve two main functions: as storage cells to store food (i.e. honey and pollen) and as brood cells to house their young.

Here’s a fun geometry fact: A scholar during the time of ancient Rome named Marcus Terentius Varro studied the intricate structure of the honeycomb. He wrote about its efficiency, because the repeated hexagonal pattern of the comb required the least amount of wax to build the walls. This later became known as “the honeycomb conjecture“, which was eventually proven in 1999 by mathematician Thomas C. Hales. 

This makes so much sense because producing wax is hard work for the bees!

To help kids appreciate this concept further, I would recommend this fun worksheet from Science Friday to let them investigate how the hexagonal shared cell walls can affect the amount of wax needed to build the honeycomb.

This is also a perfect opportunity to learn about tessellation. Tessellation is the use of repeated shapes to cover a surface, without any gaps or overlaps. In other words, it’s a pattern of shapes where they all fit perfectly next to each other. Can your children identify what shapes are able to tessellate? They can even create their very own tessellation artwork using those shapes!

Verse 68 of Surah An-Nahl shows that just like how everything in the universe takes place in accordance with Allah’s command and by His guidance, it is by no accident that the bee nest is built with such remarkable precision and engineering to serve its functions and purpose wonderfully.

Happy learning!

 

The amazing balance in the human body

From the beautiful blue sky to the magnificent mountains, and the drops of rain to the vast ocean, it’s just impossible to not see the beauty and perfection in Allah’s creation all around us.

But actually, we don’t even have to look very far to realize this – the human anatomy itself is a perfect example of the miraculous precision, balance, and beauty in Allah’s creation! Let’s take a closer look at this concept of balance. There’s a beautiful gem in Surah Al-Infitar that tells us about this, and it would be great if we can explore this further with our children as it demonstrates the amazing perfection in the way that Allah has created us, humans.

In Surah Al-Infitar, verses 6-8, Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ

(O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous)

الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّاكَ فَعَدَلَكَ

(Who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you?)

فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَاء رَكَّبَكَ

(In whatever form He willed has He assembled you.)

The human body constitutes several important systems. The interaction of these specialized systems and mechanisms is what maintains the body’s balance and stability that allows us to function properly. For instance, if we look at the endocrine system, the release of hormones helps in regulating our blood pressure and volume. Energy balance is another example. The two hormones grehlin and leptin (also known as “hunger hormones”) regulate our appetite and intake of food and nutrition, which play a major role in energy balance. Likewise, other systems interact to regulate body temperature as well as maintain blood flow and acid balance. This optimal state of the physical, internal, and chemical elements that maintain balance and equilibrium is known as homeostasis.

Isn’t it amazing that Allah SWT mentions specifically about this proportion and balance in the Quran? These are all signs for us to reflect upon, yet it’s easy for us to overlook these miracles and take our body and health for granted.

This is a great opportunity for us to connect these verses from Surah al-Infitar with biology lessons. Have a look at some of these ideas and resources that might help you:

• Make a “Human Body Lapbook” to introduce your children to different concepts in anatomy. A lapbook is a great way for kids to record key concepts and information that they have learned. This is especially ideal for younger kids, but some older kids find them fun as well. The best way is to create it from scratch, but Rahmah Muslim Homeschool offers a Human Body lapbook that you can download as well!
• Choose one topic (e.g. the brain, the heart) and create 3D art model at home based on this topic. Children can choose different materials to construct these models. Let them be creative! You can also check out some awesome anatomy craft ideas from The Crafty Classroom.
• For older children who like something more interactive, Healthline.com’s Human Body Map is also a good resource where kids can visually learn about the different parts in the different layers of the human body.
• Last but not least, encourage them to practice reading the supplication for good health as practiced by Rasulullah SAW:
  

  اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَدَنِي اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي سَمْعِي اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَصَرِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

  (O Allah, grant me health in my body. O Allah, grant me good hearing. O Allah, grant me good eyesight. There is no God but You.)

The more we learn about the human body and its systems, the better we realize the great precision and details that Allah SWT has created us with. Hope you will have fun with the above activities and resources, happy learning!

 

When Allah speaks about camels…

Learning about animals and all the cool facts around them has never failed to fascinate children. One day just doesn’t seem enough to learn about one type of animal!

Anyway,  last night there was this TV documentary about the Mongolian nomads and one scene featured the two-humped Bactrian camels that are commonly found in that region. The kids found it pretty interesting as the camels look a bit different than the “typical” camel that they know, the dromedary kind. So this gave me the perfect idea for a Quranic gem – a Quran verse about camels! Allah talks about this amazing animal in verse 17 of Surah Al-Ghaashiyah, where He says:

أَفَلَا يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ

“Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?” (Al-Ghaashiyah: 17)

The fact that Allah presents this verse to us in such a way shows that camels are indeed a special type of animal. But what makes these mammals so special?

Allah SWT has created the camel with unique characteristics that enable them to survive a harsh, severe climate. From their feet structure that helps them to have a firm grasp of the ground, to the humps that act as reservoirs for fatty tissue, to their oval-shaped red blood cells that can facilitate blood flow in a dehydrated state, every single part of the camel is created in such a specific, purposeful fashion that shows the excellence of the Almighty Creator, subhanAllah.

I can probably go on and on with so many incredible facts about this fascinating mammal, but I suppose it would be more fun for you to do a mini-research project or some activities at home with your children to explore the topic further! 😃

Here are some ideas:

• Explore the similarities and differences between dromedary and Bactrian camels. What biological family do camels belong to?
• There are more than 100 Arabic words for the word “camel”. It would be fun to find out what some of these words are! Are there other languages with different words for “camel”?
• After learning about the wonderful characteristics of the camel from a scientific perspective, read the story of Prophet Saalih a.s, the people of Thamud, and the she-camel. You can never go wrong with stories.😁
• If your kids are anything like my eldest, who absolutely loves geography, another interesting activity would be to print out a world map and let them mark a region/country on the map where different types of camels can be found. Which region/country are they native to?

Happy exploring!

 

 

Ask, and He will give!

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh dear readers!

I know it has been a while since this I posted a gem on this blog, for the most part due to some other commitments. But alhamdulillah, this blessed month, Allah SWT has granted me the opportunity to continue to share with you more gems from the Quran that I hope will benefit us all, inshaAllah. I sincerely pray that we parents can reap more reward during this blessed month by teaching the gems shared on this blog to our children. Ameen.

So we have just entered the second week of Ramadan (oh how time flies!), and this wonderful month, as many already know, is the month of worship. One very important essence of worship is du’a, or supplication. As we teach our children the importance of fasting, we should also not forget to instill in them the love and eagerness in making du’a to Allah SWT.

Today’s chosen gem is from Surah Al-Ghaafir, verse 60:

وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدْعُونِىٓ أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ

[And your Lord says: “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.”]

Let your child think about something good that they really, really want to have. Then tell them, do they know that Allah SWT can give what they ask for, and even much, much, more than that? Yes! Allah SWT tells us in the above verse that we should ask from Him, and He answers the du’a of those who ask from Him.

Allah SWT also mentions in Surah al- Baqarah, verse 186, that indeed He is near and He responds to our supplication when we call upon Him. It is important that we make children realize and be aware that although we can’t see Allah, He is always there, and He always listens. People may get annoyed when we ask them something, especially if we do it too often. Sometimes they make us sad and disappointed. But see, Allah loves us so, so, much that He even loves when we ask from Him! Subhanallah how awesome is that?

Now, here are a few things we can do to further encourage children to learn about the power of du’a and make them more aware of the importance of du’a in their lives:

• Share some amazing stories about du’a, for instance the du’a of Prophet Yunus a.s. They will love the story of the whale! 😊
• Make a set of du’a cards together. Choose one du’a to write on each card. Encourage your children to memorize each du’a, and read them regularly.
• As we are now in the month of Ramadan, ask your child to start memorizing the best du’a to read in the last 10 nights: اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Our days are filled with so many opportunities to make du’a. So don’t forget to use every opportunity we have to remind our children about supplicating to Allah – when it’s raining, when you’re traveling, before breaking the fast, etc. May Allah SWT accept our sincere du’a this blessed month. Ameen!

 

Sunrise and Sunset: What You Might Not Know

One of the greatest things about reading and understanding the Quran is that it contains so many less-known facts that not just children, but even grown-ups are probably not aware of. The Quranic gem that we will look at today is about one of those fascinating facts.

Most of us know that the sun rises in the east, and sets in the west, right?

What we might imagine, however, is that there’s one fixed point in the east where the sun always rises, and another fixed point in the west where it always sets. But guess what? That’s actually not the case! At least, not everyday.

Allah has mentioned this wondrous fact in Surah Al-Ma’aarij:

“So I swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests that indeed We are able.” (Surah Al-Ma’aarij: 40)

So what do these “easts” and “wests” exactly mean? How can there be more than one east and more than one west?

This is where it gets interesting!

Here’s how it works. There is one point in the east referred to as due east and another point in the west known as due west. Let’s use the term “real east” and “real west” for easy understanding.

But do you know that there are only two days in one year that the sun actually rises in the “real east” and sets in the “real west”? These days are known as the equinox.

On other days, the points where the sun rises and sets change slightly! This means that the sun can rise a little north or a little south to due east and sets a little north or a little south of due west.

[Note: There are different reading materials and websites that discuss this in detail, but for younger children, it’s sufficient to understand the fact that there are different points at which the sun rises and sets every day.]

In some places, this phenomenon can be seen more clearly than others. The people who live in these places can actually notice the different points that the sun rises and sets each day, especially in higher places. Amazing, isn’t it? SubhaanAllah.

Now here’s an activity that can encourage learners to explore further about this interesting phenomenon:

The Astronomy Magazine has suggested one interesting activity to observe the changing position of the Sun. Click here to check it out. The phenomenon would be more clear if the period is observation is longer (several weeks or months, for instance).

Make sure to take safety measures such as not to look directly at the sun, and choose a safe place as your observation spot!

Happy learning!