CURRICULUM
The Junior Youth Group (JYG) at the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC) is a three-year Islamic enrichment program for middle school youth (aged 10 to 13), and serves as a bridge between New Horizon Sunday School (for preschool and elementary school students) and the Muslim Youth Group (for adolescents and young adults). Class runs from 10am-11:45am, followed by a 15-minute break, then an Arabic class from 12-1pm.
There are approximately 39 weeks per academic year, but only approximately 31 weeks of class, due to events and holidays. The students are currently in Year 2 of the program. All JYG sessions follow approximately the same format:
10-10:15am: Students bring in a dua and explain how to incorporate it into daily life
10:15-11am: Presentation of Muslim prophets and other important Muslim figures throughout history, and bimonthly spirituality sessions
11-11:45am: A guest speaker is invited to give a lecture, and monthly Qur’an study modules with Imam Asim Buyoksoy and the Muslim Youth Group
At the end of every year, knowledge checks are conducted to ensure that students are retaining information and primed to integrate their JYG-earned knowledge into their lives. The following, subject to changes, outlines the approximate curriculum for JYG. For a downloadable version of the curriculum, please click HERE.
Class Rules:
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Raise your hand, and only speak when called upon
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Do not speak when others are speaking
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Respect the classroom, the teacher, and each other
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Be responsible (i.e. bring all your supplies)
YEAR 1
Prophets covered:
Important Muslim Figures Throughout History:
For year 1, starting in the second semester, students pursue an activism project, which consists of three central phases. In the first phase, students plan out their project: they present on their topic, their plan of action, the rationale behind their project, and the various logistics of implementation. In the second phase, students then implement their activism project. In the third phase, they report back to JYG with the results of their project.
YEAR 2
9/13
REGISTRATION; FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
9/20
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:50am: Presentation of Aisha
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Subhan Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
9/27
NO SCHOOL: EID-UL-ADHA
10/04
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:50am: Presentation of Prophet Dhul-Kifl
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Allahu Akbar)
11-11:45am: Qur’an study module with Imam Asim Buyoksoy and Muslim Youth Group
10/11
BACK TO SCHOOL DAY
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-11am: Presentation of Khadijah
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
10/18
ISLAMIC NEW YEAR
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:50am: Presentation of Abu Hurairah
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Astaghfir Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
Evening: Scavenger hunt and dinner at The Grove with the Gesher Group
10/25
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-11am: Presentation of Caliph Abu Bakr
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
11/1
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:50am: Presentation of Prophet Hizqeel
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Alhamdu Illa Allah)
11-11:45am: Qur’an study module with Imam Asim Buyoksoy and Muslim Youth Group
11/8
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-11am: Presentation of Prophet Isma’il
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
11/15
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:50am: Presentation of Fatimah bint Muhammad
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Subhan Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
11/22
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-11am: Presentation of Prophet Elias and Al-Yasaa
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
11/29
NO SCHOOL; THANKSGIVING
12/6
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:50am: Presentation of Al-Bukhari
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Allahu Akbar)
11-11:45am: Qur’an study module with Imam Asim Buyoksoy and Muslim Youth Group
12/13
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-11am: Presentation of Al-Ghazali
11-11:45am: Visit by the Gesher Group
12/20
MILAD-UL-NABI
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:50am: Presentation of Prophet Daniel
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Astaghfir Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
12/27
NO SCHOOL; WINTER BREAK
1/3
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:50am: Presentation of Al-Kindi
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Alhamdu Illa Allah)
11-11:45am: Qur’an study module with Imam Asim Buyoksoy and Muslim Youth Group
1/10
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-11am: Presentation of Prophet Shammil
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
1/17
NO SCHOOL; STAFF DEVELOPMENT
1/24
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-10:50am: Presentation of Prophet Ishaq
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Subhan Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
1/31
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-11am: Presentation of Sulaiman the Magnificent
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
2/7
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-10:50am: Presentation of Prophet Shu’aib
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Allahu Akbar)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
2/14
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-11am: Presentation of Ibn Ishaq
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
2/21
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-10:50am: Presentation of Ibn Rushd
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Astaghfir Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
2/28
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-11am: Presentation of Caliph Osman
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
3/6
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-10:50am: Presentation of Akbar the Great
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Alhamdu Illa Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
3/13
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-11am: Presentation of Prophet Shia
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
3/20
NO SCHOOL; SPRING BREAK
3/27
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-10:50am: Presentation of Al-Farabi
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Subhan Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
4/3
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-10:50am: Presentation of Prophet Yusuf
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Allahu Akbar)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
4/10
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-11am: Presentation of Prophet Yusuf continued
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
4/17
EARTH DAY
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25am-10:50am: Presentation of Prophet Yusuf continued
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Astaghfir Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
4/24
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-11am: Presentation of Al-Tabari
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
5/1
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-10:50am: Presentation of Prophet Musa and Haroun
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Alhamdu Illa Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
5/8
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-11am: Presentation of Prophet Musa and Haroun continued
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
5/15
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-10:50am: Presentation of Prophet Musa and Haroun continued
10:50-11am: Spirituality Sessions (Subhan Allah)
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
5/22
10-10:15am: Students bring in dua + how to incorporate into daily life
10:15-10:25am: Student activism project presentations/updates
10:25-11am: Presentation of Prophet Musa and Haroun continued
11-11:45am: 30-min lecture by guest speaker + 15 min Q&A session
5/29
KNOWLEDGE CHECK
6/5
GRADUATION PARTY; LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Prophets covered:
Important Muslim Figures Throughout History:
For year 2, in the second semester, students are again expected to pursue an activism project, and to plan, implement and evaluate it over the remaining course of the program. The format of the program remains largely the same as that of the first year. JYG collaborates with numerous people and organizations for our programming, e.g. the Gesher Group from B’nai David-Judea Congregation, a Jewish youth group which comprises 7th grade boys and 6th grade girls.
YEAR 3
Prophets covered:
Important Muslim Figures Throughout History:
In the third year of JYG, in the second semester, students no longer pursue activism projects. Instead, they are tasked with selecting a contemporary problem, and addressing it from the Muslim perspective.