Do You Remember?
A matching game for Muslims
Game Rules, Directions and More
Includes 72 game pieces (36 game pieces for the expansion set)
24 game pieces in the basic game and expansion set are in color
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Do You Remember?A matching game for MuslimsGame Rules, Directions and MoreIncludes 72 game pieces (36 game pieces for the expansion set)24 game pieces in the basic game and expansion set are in color |
There are many versions of memory matching games currently on the market, most notably "Memory"® and "Husker Du?"®. All these games provide hours of enjoyment for both young and old. But they also teach children to retain ever greater amounts of information in short term memory. Several foreseen and unforeseen discoveries have been accomplished when playing these games.
Children playing these memory games greatly increase their ability to remember large amounts of information in short term memory, such as map directions. With larger amounts of information in short term memory, a greater percentage of information can be practiced, revised and remediated.
Practice, revision and remediation are some of the tools used to aid information in passing from short term to long term memory. If more information is available in short term memory, more information has the possibility of making it to long term memory.
Another useful side effect has been to detect problems in information retention in some children and adults who have played these memory matching games. See "Short Term Memory".
In designing "Do You Remember?" the our initial concern was finding enough pictures to make a 72 game piece set (36 pairs). Once it was determined that we had well over the 36 pieces needed, MHSNR set about choosing a representational sample. The sample was chosen keeping in mind the differences in interpretation that exists within the Muslim community. See "Expansion Set"
The game pieces have also been designed as an aid in Tarabiyah, the concept that Islam can be and should be applied in all facets of education and every day life. For example a child matches both ant game pieces, the parent, teacher, etc. can ask if the child (or children) remember any stories about ants in the Quran or Hadith. The story (ies) should then briefly be told and/or reaffirmed. See "Some Teaching Examples"
Any time two game pieces DO NOT match, the players turn has ended. The pieces are returned face down
to the original starting positions they occupied within the game field. Playing turn moves to the next player.
Before returning non matching pieces to the face down position, a reasonable amount of time must be given so that all players can see what pieces have been "found".
The player with the most game pieces (matches) in his or her "win" pile, wins the game.
After game play has begun game pieces can only be moved from starting position if a match has been made. At no other time can a game piece be moved from original starting position. The only other "movement permitted is to turn over a game piece and reveal it's picture.
Game pieces cannot be placed in the game field at the beginning of the game if it does not have it's match also in the game field. Only two matching cards of each individual picture maybe placed the game field. No pieces may be added to the game field after game play has begun.
In "About the Game" it was mentioned previously that more than the 36 game pieces needed for the game were made. It was decided to offer these additional pieces in an expansion set. In doing this, families can personalize and customize the game in keeping with their interpretation of Qu'ran and Hadith.
"Do You Remember?" has been designed as an aid to Tarabiyah. All game pieces depict something found in Quran, Hadith or Muslim daily life.
For example:
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Masjids Game Piece Information
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Flag Information
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Short Term MemoryEvery time a person learns or receives information it is first stored in short term memory. As the name implies, information stored there is only available for a small amount of time. It's like a plane or train transfer point on a long trip. When people are on a long train or plane trip they may make layover stops where they transfer to other planes or trains to continue their journey. If the information is meaningful, interesting, fun or repeated often enough, such as in a rote format, the information passes from short term memory to long term memory. Using our plane or train example it's as if for some travelers the transfer point is actually their final stop. Others, are there for only a short amount of time before continuing on. So too is short term memory. Some information never goes any further other information is on it's way to long term memory. With practice we can increase not only the amount of information stored in short term memory but the length of time it is stored there. Increasing our short term memory in both amount and length gives us better ability to move more information to long term memory, and thereby making learning easier and faster. In games designed to increase memory, information retention children learn to keep and maintain information on the placement of 72 game pieces. They do this for the length of the game and these variables change for each game. These children can readily apply their game "training" to real life situations, such as remembering landmarks to keep them from getting lost. Attention spans are also decreasing, for a variety of reasons. Considering that attention spans are also crucial in short term formation and long term memory retention this may have alarming consequences. Children with decreased attention spans (for their age) mean that the amount of information reaching short term memory is smaller. In turn the amount of information reaching long term memory is smaller still. Memory Matching games are not only a fun way to teach the young and expand their information retention abilities but it can also detect problems in young and old. Memory retention problems can effect persons at any age, whether it is small undetected micro seizures or strokes, Alzheimer's, a learning disability, medication, or something as simple as not getting enough sleep. Just as someone may develop Diabetes when older as their body stops producing insulin, so too can a body stop producing chemicals needed for normal brain functions. This drop can happen slowly with little signs that there is a problem. Loss of memory just becomes :the way a person it". Problems like seizures can be disguised this way. Many people think that all seizures are large unmistakable events. But that is only one type of seizures. Some develop micro seizures where all appears normal on the outside with no visible signs. But the person suffering may appear to lack the ability to pay attention, be confused, or constantly lacking ability to retain information. Other memory disorders are directly related to medication a person is taking and may indicate the need for adjustment. Indeed many respite care facilities give their patients, residents weekly memory tests to make sure their medication isn't adversely affecting them. There are learning disabilities such as Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD) , Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia and more to consider. For a child or and adult with ADD or ADHD simple tasks of remembering are very difficult. It's like someone constantly changing |
television channels, but this is inside their head, with no way top stop the
"clicker". And that is what is like all day long for a child or an adult with ADD. ADHD is just like ADD except that there is the added component of a person being hyperactive, always on the go. A child with ADHD may not only have a hard time concentrating on tasks but may have a hard time sitting down and cease "wiggling". Dyslexia, another learning disability, keeps children and adults from decoding information they see (and sometimes hear) and it can appear to them as a mixed up jumble. When you can't decode, you can't place information in short term memory in an efficient manner. Clinical Depression and/or sleep deprivation are also factors in loss of memory, information retention. It's short of like a car not running on all cylinders. The car, like the brain, is not going to go as fast or work as well. In clinical depression brain functions are decreased as chemicals the body makes for healthy brain function are no longer being produced. The result is someone whose thinking is impaired and who cannot simply "snap" out of it. Until the body can once again begin production of normal chemicals "snapping out if it" is not possible. Medical doctors and scientists say that for a normal adult eight (8) hours of uninterrupted sleep is critical, for a child at least ten (10) hours of uninterrupted sleep is needed. Sometimes prayers can keep us from getting every hour of sleep our body needs, so it is important for us, during those times, to nap and rest whenever possible. There are other brain disorders and chemical losses that can effect memory function so it is important that a doctor be consulted. Encouraging more Muslims to become special needs teachers , there will be more teachers able to teach kids and adults with learning disorders, and more information accessible to every parent. Translations of the many of the books listed below willd also be of great assistance. It is important that whenever information retention is in question that we do and don't do a few things. For a child it is important to remember that their view of themselves and their abilities are being formed at this time. If we, as parents and educators call them even the seemingly benign names of "stupid", "retarded", "moron", "dummy" and the like, it damages. Even hinting can cause problems. These are not benign names, but cancers that blight a child, and then an adult's, possible achievements. Unlike a wound to the flesh that heals, psychological wounds may never heal and they are harder to treat for they often cannot be readily determined. This is one of the reasons we have been forbidden, as Muslims, to call each other names, even if that person is a child. Often there is a real and valid reason why children or adults are not paying attention or remembering information they are given. It is up to us as parents, educators and Ummah to decipher what those reasons are. It is up to us not to jump to easily dismissed conclusions that a person is stupid or doesn't have the right stuff for education, or learning. What we can do is become as educated as possible, develop more and more special needs teachers, and volunteer our time to be reading and memory buddies at Islamic schools, Muslim homeschools, poorer neighborhoods, community centers, etc. Above all as teacher, parent, volunteer is patience, sabuur. That combined with assistance and praise we can teach with positive reinforcement. Neither be too generous with praise as to make it worthless, or too miserly so that it all too rarely comes. |
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| A Letter From the Director of MHSNR Assalamu Alaikum Thank you for downloading and printing "Do You Remember?". If you purchased the game somewhere in the many corners and hamlets of the world, I also thank you. In the many years since Muslim Home School Network and Resource (MHSNR) began operations I have wanted to produce material, workbooks, textbooks and the like to aid in educating Muslim children. The idea of this game came to me "out of no where" and over 70 working hours later, here it is. Alhumdillillah. Much of the game has been a labor of love. From researching and locating pictures, to resizing, "Muslimizing", and rethinking what will and will not work, it has been an experience that I would not trade. To be given the opportunity to produce something like this, is a gift from Allah. Many know that I am dyslexic. I do not hide it, but to champion it as an example for others with learning disabilities. When I was a child in a first grade public school my parents were told that I didn't have it for education and that I might not amount much. One very dark day in my first grade class the teacher said that I was dumb and held up my work for the class as an example of what not to do. Some 32 years later I still carry the memory of it. Though the teacher and principal were wrong it took many years to work out of the frightening lack of confidence I had in myself and my abilities. I felt and believed that I was stupid, a rectangle peg trying to fit into a square hole. With the help of wonderful teachers, my parents and maturity I over came these self fulfilling prophesies. Now, not only do I have a child with Dyslexia, whom I teach, but I am also volunteer as a "reading buddy" at the local Islamic school. I cannot stress enough how important it is to work with all children, the fast and the "slow". Get them reading at least 1/2 hour everyday, do things with them, and play games with them that increase their memory and comprehension skills. Detecting memory disorders and solving them, as much as we are able, is so very important. Increasing a child's memory capacity, like much of education, can be done in a fun and mutually rewarding atmosphere |
I hope that "Do You Remember?" will provide many hours of enjoyment, bonding and learning for you and your family or students. We have made this game freely available on the world wide web. In doing this we knew that we would not be guaranteed any compensation for the time and work that went into it's layout and design. If you purchased this game, then your funds went to the person or company you bought this from. That's wonderful as it is what we intended However, there is still much we'd like to do and place on the web for free use, like our K-8 penmanship books. This project and more, requires software and a new computer. My old 486 cannot be upgraded any more. Donations are how we can accomplish these goals. Think about how much more MHSNR can produce free on the web when we can pay the bills, buy the software and upgrade the computer. MHSNR isn't a big organization with barrels full of so much money we don't know what to do with ourselves. I am also not a wealthy person. With one child heading to college what my family gave to MHSNR as operating expenses is no longer there. I am however a dedicated person with so many ideas and projects either in the works or waiting for the time for them to see the light, that it may appear to be so. I often feel as if my head will explode with all the ideas and projects. Many of these ideas and projects do take money. If you would like to help MHSNR continue to produce free educational material, hold Muslim homeschooling conventions, cover our operating expenses and much more please consider sending a donation. Send to: MHSNR Please make checks payable to MHSNR. Jazak'Allah Khairin. Salam, |
| Game Design and Layout Cynthia R. Sulaiman Websites London Central Mosque courtesy of www.islamicculturalcentre.co.uk/ Islamic Center of Greater Toledo courtesy of bloom.mit.edu/agakhan/WWW_PAGES/USmosques/oh1.html Kaabah with red background, and Tajmahal courtesy of MSA@Buffalo wings.buffalo.edu/student-life/sa/muslim/ All other mosques courtesy of IslamiCity www.islamicity.org |
Pakistani flag courtesy of www.geocities.com/qaisar5 All other flags courtesy of www.theodora.com/flags Software 5000 Snippets, Greenstreet Arts and Letters, Computer Support Corporation Graphic Workshop, Alchemy Mindworks Image Composer, Microsoft Key Clip Art 25,000, The Learning Company Paint, Microsoft Primary Clip Art Themes, Teacher Created Materials Primary Fonts I and II, Teacher Created Materials Visual Page, Symantech Word , Microsoft |
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"The Challenging Child : Understanding, Raising,
and Enjoying the Five 'Difficult' Types of Children" |
"The Survival Guide for Teenagers With Ld* (*Learning
Differences)" |
"Autism : Information and Resources for Professionals
and Parents" |
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"Autism and Play" |
"The ADD Hyperactivity Handbook for Schools : Effective
Strategies for Identifying and Teaching Add Students in Elementary and Secondary Schools" |
"The A.D.D. Hyperactivity Workbook for Parents, Teachers,
and Kids" |
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"You & Your A.D.D. Child : How to Understand
and Help Kids With Attention Deficit Disorder" |
"Add/Adhd Behavior-Change Resource Kit : Ready-To-Use
Strategies & Activities for Helping Children With Attention Deficit Disorder" |
"Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention : A Book
for Kids About Add " |
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"Josh : A Boy With Dyslexia" |
"The Pretenders : Gifted People Who Have Difficulty
Learning" |
"The Gift of Dyslexia : Why Some of the Smartest
People Can't Read and How They Can Learn" |
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"Understanding Dyslexia : A Practical Approach for
Parents and Teachers" |
"Turning Around : The Upside Down Kids : Helping
Dyslexic Kids Overcome Their Disorder" |
"The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the
Needs of All Learners" |
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"Teaching With the Brain in Mind" |
"A Celebration of Neurons : An Educator's Guide to
the Human Brain" |
"The Absorbent Mind" |
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"Teaching Your Child Concentration : A Playskool
Guide" |
"Through The Learning Glass : A Child's Nine Learning
Windows You Don't Want to Miss" |
"Learning in Spite of Labels" |
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"How to Talk So Kids Can Learn : At Home and in School" |
"Home Schooling Children With Special Needs"
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Super-Memory-Super Student : How |
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"Menopause and the Mind: The Complete Guide to Coping
with Memory Loss, Foggy Thinking, Verbal Confusion, and Other Cognitive Effects of Perimenopause and Menopause" |
"The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons
with Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life" |
Total Memory Workout: 8 Steps to |
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"Memory Remembering and Forgetting in Everyday Life" |
"Total Memory Workout: 8 Steps to Maximum Memory
Fitness" |
The Complete Idiot's Guide to |
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"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Improving Your Memory" |
"Improving Your Memory : How to Remember What You're
Starting to Forget" |
Improving Your Memory : How to |
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LD Resources |
International Dyslexia Association |
Learning Disabilites Association of America |
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National Academy for Child Development |
Memory Disorders Project |
Alzheimer's Association |
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Brain Injury Center |
Epilepsy Foundation |
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