Lubna and the Magical Square

When I walk in the streets of Cordoba, I count windows, houses, trees, and sometimes I count the pigeons in the sky… Do you know why? Because I’m Lubna “Friend of Numbers”.
A fictional story woven on the historical background of “Lubna of Cordoba”, who excelled in mathematics and lived in Andalusia.

The story “Lubna and the Magic Square” revolves around an important historical figure, “Lubna al-Qurtubiyya,” who played a significant role in the development of mathematics and science during the Umayyad Caliphate in Cordoba. This story can be used to inspire children and encourage them to study mathematics and explore science. Lubna loves numbers very much and sees them everywhere around her. She has five friends, and she calls each one of them by a number that resembles their personality.

One day, while Lubna was with her friends in the library of Cordoba, she overhears that there is a manuscript that arrived from Baghdad but it was damaged, and some numbers were missing from it. Lubna feels curious and sneaks with her friend Ali into the Caliph’s private chamber and sees the manuscript, she then immediately understands its secret.

Lubna manages to discover the mysterious numbers in the manuscript, but the librarians ask her to leave because she entered the Caliph’s private chamber without permission. Lubna feels sad and fears being deprived of entering the Cordoba library. However, it quickly becomes apparent to the librarians that Lubna has solved the puzzle of the numbers correctly. Finally, Lubna’s dream comes true as she walks with the children in the streets of Cordoba, teaching them arithmetic and multiplication tables, and her name becomes immortalized in the pages of history.

General Concepts:

1. The importance of mathematics in our daily lives and in scientific and technological advancement.

2. The value of curiosity and exploration in discovering secrets and knowledge.

3. The importance of cooperation and friendship in achieving goals and solving problems.

For Discussion:

1. What prompted Lubna’s interest in the manuscript that she heard about in the library?

2. Do numbers have any relation to Lubna’s friends’ personalities?

3. Do you think Lubna’s curiosity was beneficial or harmful? Why?

4. Why don’t Lubna’s friends get angry when she calls them by their numbers?

5. Where is Cordoba located?

6. What distinguishes the city of Cordoba? Why does Lubna love it?

7. What was the value of the library in that era? Does the library still hold importance in our present time?

8. What are the aspects of civilization reflected in this story?

9. What is the popular game mentioned in the story that children used to play in Cordoba? Is it still known today?

10. How can children be influenced by Lubna’s experience in library of Cordoba and apply it in their daily lives?

Activities:

1. Ask the children to draw Lubna and her friends, representing each one with their corresponding number.

2. Organize a reading session for the story and ask the children to enact the events using panels or roles.

3. Organize a mathematical activity about magic squares and use Lubna’s story as an inspiration.