Lesson Plans for My Sahara Adventure: 52 Days by Camel by Lawrie Raskin

From the Mater Amabilis site: Most children should be able to read these books independently. Read and narrate the main text for each chapter, then explore the photographs, captions and supplementary text after the narration. (These are rough outline plans I created for this coming year (2012-13). I will have the children keep a notebook (binder/folder) for their earth studies which will include maps, narrations, completed activities, pictures, etc.)

Chapter 1
Map work Locate Fez in Morocco. . What continent is it on? Activities: make a Moroccan meal (eat in the traditional style no utensils). http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/cuisines/moroccan/

Chapter 2
Map Work Locate Atlas Mountains. Locate Sahara Desert. Activities Make Islamic Art (mosaics). http://www.auntannie.com/FridayFun/PaperMosaic/index.html Vocabulary Sand Dune, Desert

Chapter 3
Map Work Locate Merzouga. Use page 23 to map the wind from a sandstorm. Activities Draw a nomads tent or a desert landscape. Vocabulary nomads, sandstorm

Chapter 4
Mapwork Locate Koares Souk, Zagora, Timbuktu, Mhamid, Marrakesh Activities learn how to twist a turban. Vocabulary Souks, scorpions, vipers

Chapter 5
Map Work Marrakesh, TanTan, Mali, Mauritania Activities make a market sign for a room in the house.

Vocabulary plain (geography term), caravan

Chapter 6
Map Work Locate Bir Moghrein, Zwerat Activities Vocabulary mirage. http://science-at-home.org/mirages/

Chapter 7
Map Work Locate Nouakchett, Bamako, Mopti, Niger River, Taoudenni. Activities make peanut butter. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/homemade-peanut-butterrecipe/index.html

Chapter 8
Map Work Locate Timbuktu Activities find our more about Timbuktu (why is it used as an expression, Thats like driving to Timbuktu!). http://www.timbuktufoundation.org/history.html http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/83238/Learn-about-the-ancient-salt-tradethat-still-exists-today Vocabulary mosque

Chapter 9
Map Work Locate Bir Ounane, Arouane Activities study camels, draw a camel. How are they adapted to the desert? Why are they used in caravans? Review maps and activities. What was your favorite? A desert is an extreme environment, why? Field Trip visit the desert house at the local conservatory to view plants adapted to this extreme environment.