MOROCCO PATCH PROGRAM
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1. Morocco is a uniquely located country. View an outline of a Morocco country map and its capital. Identify Morocco's flag. Also, locate the Mediterranean Sea.

2. Morocco's official language is Arabic. Most Moroccans also speak some form of Berber, French, and Spanish. About 2/3 of the population speaks Arabic, and mostly all use the local Berber language for daily life. The Berber languages are a mix of different styles, and are all spoken throughout northern Africa. Learn some words or slang that is spoken in Morocco.

3. Moroccans have multiple national, regional and local festivals and celebrations. Moussems are festivals connected with certain historical people and happen on a regular basis in Moroccan culture. The Festival of the Throne is the anniversary of King Mohammed VI coming into power. Green March Remembrance Day marks the march into Western Sahara in the 70's. All festivals are joyous and are celebrated with music, dancing, feasting and activities. Learn about festivals in Morocco, go to a festival, participate in one, OR complete a craft that represents a festival.

4. Morocco's food is very exotic, rich, and full of spices. Bread and tajine, are Morocco's most common food staples. Bread is eaten at every meal, and tajine, a type of stew, comes in many varieties. The national dish is couscous, a creamy and grainy, rice-like substance is steamed over a liquid stock and served with a sauce; this dish has a lot of varieties. Try or make a recipe, food, or drink from Morocco.

5. Chabbi music is the most widely popular music in Morocco now. It is a combination of Arab, African, and Western styles. At the end of the musical piece, the instrumental is often speeded up so that the audience can dance and cheer and have a fun time. Traditionally, the Berbers have music that is important for life time events and ceremonies. Historically, people would hear about events and information from traveling musicians singing the news to villages. Watch a dance OR listen to music OR sing a song OR learn more information about a dance from Morocco and try your own moves.

6. Morocco is full of many ancient myths that surround its culture and the many ethnicities surrounding the country. Ancient myths connect to Greek mythology, such as legends of Hercules. Read a Moroccan inspired story, legend, OR listen to a legend or play.

7. North Africa is full of Prehistoric rock paintings and ruins. Groups of hunter-gatherers roamed North Africa about 1 million years ago, and left behind a history that is so rich. Examples of ruins left behind by these early humans appear in cave paintings and structures such as the basilica at Volubilis. Learn more about the prehistoric times, and the early humans that once roamed the earth in North Africa, view pictures of the basilica at Volubilis, make your own cave paintings, or build a replica.

8. Morocco has coasts, mountains, and most of all, desert. About 1/2 of the land is made of desert. The lowlands host multiple Mediterranean plants, especially olive trees. Reptiles are the most common type of wildlife, with lizards, chameleons, geckos, and snakes roaming the desert. Sheep, goats, and camels are the most common. These are all very useful to the people of Morocco. Choose [3] animals OR plants from Morocco to learn more about, OR make a craft about a Moroccan animal, OR eat and/or make something with olives or olive oil.

9. Traditional handicrafts of Morocco include carpets, rugs, metalwork, jewelry, leather goods, woodwork, and pottery. The colorful and decorative rugs of Morocco are beautiful, and are very popular all around the world. The designs vary. Moroccan women think it is very important to wear jewelry. Normally, traditional silver chains decorated with charms or coins are popular. Create a craft or project using a traditional skill OR jewelry OR observe someone creating a Moroccan handicraft OR create a traditional craft from Morocco.

10. Many women in Morocco wear what is called a kaften, which is a long outer garment, and a long veil or scarf that covers their hair. Hands are tinted with henna and sometimes their faces are tattooed. Men wear djellabas, similar to the kaften, which is a long outer robe. Women's djellabas are very colorful while men's are earth tones. Draw a picture of the clothing, dress up in a Moroccan themed costume, create an accessory, complete our paper dolls OR view traditional clothing through books or the Internet or in our country manual.

11.There are a variety of games played by children in Morocco. The national sport is soccer. Learn a traditional Moroccan game OR play a game that symbolizes Morocco OR play a water game [Mediterranean Sea] OR play a game in our county manual.

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