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What is the Classic Islamic Unit Study Curriculum at the Academy?

These units are designed for the whole family to use. This means that all the children can study the same topic at the same time instead of being sent to their own desks or to separate rooms. Even toddlers and pre-schoolers enjoy participating in the activities. Due to the 'hands-on' nature of unit studies the children (and the adults, too) have a much higher level of retention, thus making it more real and exciting to learn. 

Let's take a peek on how a day might look. Say you're studying 'Birds', which is under the 'Attentiveness' unit. After a morning of studying the basics (math, phonics,language arts) you settle into the afternoon doing these activities: 

1. Science (researching the different birds' beaks) 
2. Arabic (Writing words, sentences or paragraphs about different birds that exist)
3. Reading (Reading words, sentences or paragraphs about different birds that exist)
4. Writing (Writing words, sentences or paragraphs about different birds that exist)
5. Fine Arts (sculpting beaks and feet out of playdoh)
6. Physical Education (running and flying down the street like a bird) 
7. Social Studies (reading about Prophet Sulaimaan and his gift of talking to birds, John Audubon) 
8. Islamic Studies (learning about Adab and Akhlaq - behavior and our duties)
9. Quranic Studies (Learn Surah where Allah (SWT) talks of  birds or and ayat from Surah ..)
10. Field Trip - You'll probably also want to call the local zoo for admission prices and times to prepare for the field trip you want to take tomorrow so that you can compare birds' beaks and to do some sketching of the flamingos. 
11. Phonics (K- the letter B for bird and baa' for battah)

While most curricula available today is written with a 'classroom' setting of thirty or more children in mind - ours  is written with a Muslim family in mind...a family having different ages, levels, and abilities. For example, in the description above an older child might also be asked to write a couple of paragraphs or more comparing a toucan's beak to an osprey's beak. They might even illustrate it. You might also have assigned him/her a special reading assignment on The Blind Man in Surah Abasa, Alexander Graham Bell or Helen Keller so that they find out about other people who were attentive. As you are probably beginning to see, no matter what the unit is, everyone in the family is participating at their own level.

Each volume provides for around one year of instruction for students K-8. 

Each unit includes lesson objectives;weekly lesson plans; Surah's and Islamic historical figures to study; English and Arabic - vocabulary words to use for vocabulary, spelling, and handwriting; library books and other resources to borrow for the unit; plus multitudes of stimulating activities from which to choose. 

The CIUC curriculum is a complete curriculum when other phonics, math and upper level language arts programs are added. Those students in the 7th & 8th grade might want to also include some additional subjects like a foreign language, typing, FiQh and Tafseer. All science, social studies, art, tajweed, literature, health and safety to meet state requirements are covered. A detailed look will be found in the guide in how to use the curriculum. 

Does this mean you cannot have textbooks?  No, we help you find what works for you!