An Arabian Peninsula global studies unit for homeschool, worldschool or just for fun.
We're headed to Dubai! Before our trip I wanted to do a unit on Dubai and incorporate some surrounding countries into our studies. The Middle East is pretty diverse and since we were headed to the Arabian Peninsula, we mostly stuck with material relating to that region. Here are the girls on their first visit to Dubai when they were two.
Printables
Here's this week's info, all wrapped up into an easy-to-read printable. Click here for the full color copy and click here for a low-ink black and white version.
On the Dining Room Wall
This map, this picture of Burj Khalifa, this size comparison of Burj Khalifa.
World landmark flashcards and images from old calendars. Find more information and similar products here.
What We're Listening to
Modern - There are lots of ways to listen to Arabic music out there but here's one YouTube Playlist we liked. Disclaimer, I don't speak Arabic so there's always a possibility of inappropriate lyrics that I'm not aware of in these songs.
Old - For more traditional Arab music, we liked this YouTube compilation. Disclaimer, as with many YouTube musical ambiance stations, I'm not sure how authentic this is.
Books
One from each category plus an assortment of picture books is usually just perfect.
Not all book series are as good as the next. Get the scoop on some of our favorites here.
Library Haul
Not all of these books will get read. Most library systems allow you to browse online and put books on hold. They'll round them up for you and deliver them to your local branch. It's a big time saver!
Non-Fiction Books: I usually avoid these types of country profile books because I don't think they engage kids at all. Unfortunately, this type of book was pretty much all I could find for this week. We did not read all the way through these. I skimmed them ahead of time and picked a few key things from each book to read and discuss.
Base Chapter-Type Books:
Some of these books are part of a series but all of them work as stand alone books.
Younger Learners:
Older Learners:
The Green Bicycle (By Haifaa al Mansour) We didn't actually get a chance to read this one but I'm hoping we'll have time in the future. It looks very good.
Other Notable Books
Have more time? Try these too.
Arabian Nights (Classic Starts) There are a lot of retellings of Arabian Nights stories out there. We liked this one because of the kid-friendly retellings.
Arabian Nights (National Geographic) We mostly grabbed this one for the colorful illustrations.
The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor While technically part of the Arabian Nights tales, Sinbad's adventures are so wild we wanted to read through the in a separate book.
Picture Books
Library inventories vary so much with picture books. Rather than wasting time tracking down specific ones, I like to do keyword searches and just grab what's available.
Search these keywords: Arabia, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, Ramadan, Arabian Nights.
We liked these books:
Fizza the Flamingo A cute little book about a city flamingo who meets interesting desert-dwellers on her search for peace and quiet from the bustle of modern Dubai.
A is for Arabia I loved this little book. Each letter represents a word that means something in Arabian culture. Short, simple and we learned a lot. I wish every region of the world had one of these books.
The White Nights of Ramadan A great Ramadan book specific to the Gulf region's traditional festival of Girgian.
Things to Watch*
Wild Arabia This three episode nature documentary about the wildlife of the Arabian Desert is a much for any kids as obsessed with animals as mine.
*Always vet material before watching it with your kids, especially if they are sensitive viewers. I try to note any potential issues but everyone has different parenting thresholds of what they consider appropriate.
What I Read/Watched this Week
Sometimes I read a book, watch a documentary or watch a non-kids movie to go along with the week.
Arabian Sands Classic travel memoirs are usually pretty entertaining, and this one did not disappoint. It was a great read whether you plan on visiting the region or not. It follows an English explorer traveling through the Empty Quarter of Arabia in the 1940s.
While You Read Activity Ideas
Make some Dubai buildings out of Legos, color pictures from the Middle East, etc. Here's the Dubai fountain out of Legos.
Interactive Learning: Crafts, Food, Activities, Field Trips
Go get some Middle Eastern food. So many good options!
Is there a mosque near you to visit?
Back in 2017 my good little eaters were featured on the Facebook account of a since closed falafel place.
End of Week Movie Night Ideas
Aladdin (Live Action Version) (PG, 2019) An enchanting and less problematic version of the 1992 movie. The kids loved it!
Segue Ideas... Levant Week
Wrap Up
This week was an exciting one for us because our end of week field trip was an actual trip to Dubai. Still, even without a trip across the globe, this week has a lot of fun material. This would work great as a homeschool global studies unit on the Arabian Peninsula. Here are the girls at the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhbabi.
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