On Friday, June 6th, the observance of Eid-al Adha begins, a Muslim holiday focusing on charity, communion, and gratitude. Muslim families commemorate this joyful time with new clothes, a feast, and time with loved ones. Children receive gifts, but also learn to share what you have with those who are less fortunate. This celebration is a spectacular opportunity to have kids acknowledge more introspective topics like thankfulness and supporting others, no matter their cultural background. WFSU has compiled some exciting and free PBS KIDS and PBS resources to aptly educate children of the significance of the upcoming Eid-al Adha.
Resources for Parents & Educators
For parents and educators looking to expand their knowledge on Muslim culture, PBS has a variety of content to assist with supporting adults to help better teach children about this topic.
- Eid Mubarak | PBS Short Film Festival 2024
- Enjoy this submission to PBS’s Short Film Festival about a girl’s attempt to spare her goat from becoming a dish during her family’s Eid celebration (Note: Content warning due to depictions of Animal Butchery). Recommended for adults and older students to better contextualize common practices during the initial day of Eid.
- Eid al-Fitr | PBS Learning Media for Teachers
- Watch this video segment from Religion & Ethics Newsweekly as it looks at Ramadan and how American Muslims observe it in a non-Muslim culture. Recommended for adults and 3rd grade level students and above to understand the evolution of Eid practices in America.
- 5 Facts to know about the Muslim holiday Eid | PBS NewsHour Classroom
- Read this article written by Muslim Bengali-American college senior Fariya Farah, who discloses some helpful facts that answer some common questions about Eid. Recommended for all ages to provide a base of knowledge for the holiday.
Resources for Students (Recommended for all ages)
- Peg + Cat | The Eid al-Adha Adventure (S2E13)
- Join Peg + Cat as they learn how Eid al-Adha is celebrated with their friends Yasmina and Amir. This episode covers many aspects of the good the holiday brings, including a trip to the soup kitchen to give to those in need.
- All About the Holidays | Eid al Adha & All About the Holidays | Eid al Fitr
- The ‘All About the Holidays’ series covers both Eid celebrations, presenting a concise and informative short on Eid and gives the audience all the need-to-know facts to start celebrating.
- Arthur | Ramadan & Eid al Fitr
- Stop by Aurthur’s holiday activity pages to learn more about the festival in a slide show narrated by Arthur. A coloring activity is also available where kids can color in their own mosque.
Ways to Celebrate at Home
In such a ceremonious time for the Muslim culture, ask your children or students what they are grateful for to celebrate the holiday with them. Having open and engaging discussions around different aspects such as gratitude, charity, and adornment will deepen their learning about a new and exciting day of celebration. Find activities around sharing and giving back will help strengthen their understanding of the meaning of the holiday. Use this opportunity to have more family time while offering a deep dive into another (or their own) culture. If possible, try traditional Muslim cuisine! Feasting and sharing will expand children’s cultural palates. Having children learn new customs will get them more acclimated to a world with so many different backgrounds and people that each deserve their own respect. From everyone at WFSU, enjoy the holiday weekend and Eid Mubarak!
