In short...
Themes: Ramadan; Eid ul Fitr; gifts; appreciating the most precious gifts.
Summary: The Muslim festival of Eid is celebrated at the end of Ramadan - the month of fasting. Eid is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. In 2025 Ramadan will begin on the evening of 28 February and Eid will follow on 30/31 March (exact date dependent on siting the new moon). Eid is celebrated with special food and gifts and cards.
Resources: use a wrapped gift box as a prop or use this gallery. There is also an image of Arabic words heard in the story.
The video
The video is a story narrated by a young girl called Halima. She tells us about the first day of Ramadan - her favourite time of year. But this year everything seems wrong - Dad is anxious about money and Mum is getting ready for the new baby. Mum asks Halima what is wrong but when she tells her Mum how she is feeling Halima is reprimanded: Ramadan should be about good deeds and Allah - not food and presents.
Halima takes the comments to heart and begins fasting for the first time. She does small things around the house make things easier for Mum. And when Eid finally comes she is rewarded with the very best present she could imagine…
Duration: 4' 29"
End of speech: '…As-Salaam-Alaikum, sweetie. Eid Mubarak.’
Video questions
- Why is Ramadan Halima's favourite time of year? (She enjoys the special food, the gifts and the trips to the mosque.)
- Why is Halima's mother stern with her? (She thinks that Halima is focusing too much on the food and presents…and not enough on the opportunity Ramadan gives to think of others who are less fortunate.)
- What does Halima do after talking with her mother? (She goes to the kitchen to prepare the iftar tray. Iftar is the meal taken at sunset during Ramadan to break the fast.)
- How does Halima help around the house? (She tidies her room; takes her dirty clothes to the washing machine; fills the dishwasher.)
- What does Halima hardly notice in the night sky? (The moon waning - bringing the new moon closer, when it will be time for Eid.)
Key links
Assembly framework (pdf) document
Print out the assembly framework ready for use
Eid words image
Arabic words associated with Eid heard in the story
Suggested framework
1. Entry music
You could do an internet search on 'gifts', 'presents', 'greatest gift' etc. There are plenty of well-known songs to choose from!
2. Introduction
Display the gallery images of wrapped presents or, if you prefer, use your own wrapped gift as a prop. Begin by asking the children some or all of the following questions: 1. What am I showing you / What am I holding? 2. What do you think could be inside? 3. When do we give presents to each other? 4. Why do we give presents to each other? 5. Have any of you ever received a really surprising present? Continue by explaining that Eid will be happening soon - a special time when Muslims celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan (add as much detail as you feel is necessary). The exact timing of Eid is dependent on the new moon appearing in the sky. In the video a girl called Halima will tell us more about one particular Eid when she received a very special present…
3. The video
Play the video. The duration is 4'29" and the final words are: '…‘As-Salaam-Alaikum, sweetie. Eid Mubarak.’
4. After the video
You could use the story questions to consolidate the children's recall of the events and meaning of the story.
5. Time to talk
Continue by exploring some of the themes of the story including presents and gift-giving: 1. Do you think Halima changed during the story? What things did she start doing differently? 2. The story was called 'The best Eid present ever'. Why do you think it was called that? 3. Can you think of any other very special presents or gifts…things that perhaps don't come wrapped in boxes?
6. Opportunity to sing
See below for suggestions from BBC collections.
7. Opportunity to reflect
The reflection focuses on gifts and thinking broadly about what gifts may be:
Today we’ve been thinking about gifts and why we give each other gifts…
Gifts help us to celebrate together and to show other people that they are important to us…
There are all sorts of gifts…some that come wrapped as presents…and some gifts, like the one in our story, which do not…
In the stillness think about what the greatest gifts are…
If you could give another person - or even the whole world - a very special gift, what would it be?
8. Opportunity for prayer
Dear God.
Thank you for the presents we are given and for the chance to show other people how important they are to us by giving presents. Help us to think about the meaning of presents and to understand the things which are most precious.
Amen.
Suggested songs
All together as a family - Vocal
Some can dance and some can sing,
Some can fiddle on a violin.
Some can bat and some can bowl,
Some can tackle and score a goal.
Some can paint and some can sew,
Some can juggle and some can throw.
Some can throw, some can throw.
All that we can do or be
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
Some can run and some can swim,
Some do somersaults in the gym.
Some can ride or climb a tree,
Some are good at technology.
Some can teach and some can guide,
Some get everybody organised.
Organised, organised.
All that we can do or be
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
One for all and all for one,
All together we get things done.
We get things done.
All that we can do or be…
[spoken] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
All together as a family.
All together as a family (backing track)
Some can dance and some can sing,
Some can fiddle on a violin.
Some can bat and some can bowl,
Some can tackle and score a goal.
Some can paint and some can sew,
Some can juggle and some can throw.
Some can throw, some can throw.
All that we can do or be
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
Some can run and some can swim,
Some do somersaults in the gym.
Some can ride or climb a tree,
Some are good at technology.
Some can teach and some can guide,
Some get everybody organised.
Organised, organised.
All that we can do or be
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
One for all and all for one,
All together we get things done.
We get things done.
All that we can do or be…
[spoken] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
All together as a family.
Being a friend - Vocal
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend is the best thing you can do,
Time and again it’s our friends that help us through.
You could be a millionaire,
Or fly a rocket to the moon,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever do.
Whatever we grow up to be,
And live in harmony,
Together we all need to see
That friendship is the key!
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend - Backing
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend is the best thing you can do,
Time and again it’s our friends that help us through.
You could be a millionaire,
Or fly a rocket to the moon,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever do.
Whatever we grow up to be,
And live in harmony,
Together we all need to see
That friendship is the key!
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.