What are the physical features of Abu Dhabi?

The Facts:

Abu Dhabi is mostly desert. It has some of the largest sand dunes in the world. 

The desert sand is broken by the fertile oases where plants flourish and fresh water flows.

The Hajar Mountains form part of the eastern border between Abu Dhabi and Oman.  

Abu Dhabi also has a beautiful coast line on the Persian Gulf. Due to the Persian Gulf war, the people of Abu Dhabi prefer to call it the Arabian Gulf.

 

Questions to Consider:

What plants and animals live in each of these different habitats?

Which area of Abu Dhabi would you like to visit? Why?

What are the physical features of the U.S.?

How are the physical features of Abu Dhabi and the U.S. similar and different?

Which physical feature of the U.S. would you like to visit? Why?

Create a topographical map.

Learn an Arabic Word:

One -- Wha'had -- أن

Learn More About Abu Dhabi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi

All About the U.A.E. Flag

The Facts:

The flag has four colors: red, black, white, and green. Each color is a rectangular block. Together the colors make an "E" shape. The red stripe is vertical. Green is the top horizontal stripe. White is in the middle, and black is on bottom. The colors were chosen to represent the uniting of seven Arab Emirates. Each color has a special meaning to Arabic people. Green represents fertility. White represents peace. Black represents the oil that supports the country's economy. Red represents previous flags of the Muslim people. Just like in the United States, the flag is very important to the people here and represents their pride in their country. 

Questions to Consider:

What values are shown in the ideas that the colors of the U.A.E. flag represent?

Can you find the "E" in the U.A.E. flag?

What are the colors on the U.S. flag?

Do the colors mean anything special?

Draw the U.S. flag.

Make a flag for your class. Include a legend explaining what each color means to you.

Define the words "vertical" and "horizontal."

Learn an Arabic Word:

One -- Wha'had -- أن

Learn More About Abu Dhabi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi

What is School Like in Abu Dhabi?

The Facts:

Each school in Abu Dhabi is a little different, just like any other school in the world, so I will tell you about my school on Delma Island.

Sunday morning, the first day of school for the week, the students begin arriving at school by car and bus at 7:10. The students attend school from Sunday to Thursday and are off on Friday and Saturday. When they arrive, they put their bookbags in their classroom closet and go to the playground inside of the school. It is too hot here to play outside. The students play until 7:30. At 7:30, we have the morning assembly. The students line up in front of their teacher, one line for boys and one line for girls. The boys wear blue uniforms and the girls wear pink, both have long pants and sleeves. The sports teacher leads the students in a few exercises then calls up three students to lead the school in the pledge to the U.A.E. flag. After the pledge, one teacher leads the school through a type of prayer. The national religion is important to the people of Abu Dhabi and is included in school activities. At 7:45, they walk in a line to class. The first activity in the classroom is the collecting of breakfast money and taking attendance. The order of the classes changes daily, but each day the students are taught English, Math, Science, Arabic, and Islamic Studies. They also go to one special class each day: music, art, sports, computers, or library. They have 30 minutes for breakfast at 9:30, and they have 15 minutes for recess at 10:45. Their day ends at 12:30.

Questions to Consider:

What days do you go to school?

What days are the weekend?

What do you wear to school?

What classes do you have at school? Which one is your favorite?

How long are you at school everyday?

Draw a picture schedule of your school day. 

How is your school alike and different from my school?

Learn an Arabic Word:

One -- Wha'had -- أن

Learn More About Abu Dhabi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi

What Sports Are Popular in Abu Dhabi?

The Facts:

The national sport of Abu Dhabi is football! However, it is not the sport we think of as football in America. Here, as in many other countries, football is soccer. Rugby and cricket, which originated from England, are also popular here. Camel racing is a part of the national history of Abu Dhabi. Camels are very important animals in the UAE. They are worth a lot of money and every year festivals are held to celebrate them. Water sports have been practiced in Abu Dhabi for many years. Even though much of the land is desert, Abu Dhabi has a long coast line and many islands. People enjoy boating, sailing, swimming, snorkeling, and jet skiing in the clear ocean water. Golf has gained much popularity in Abu Dhabi. On some courses, instead of the area of grass known as a "green," they have an area of sand called a "brown." In Abu Dhabi, Formula One car races are becoming more popular; however rally racing in cars across the dangerous desert sands has been done for many years. These are just a few of the most popular sporting activities in Abu Dhabi.

This link will take you to a short video about a desert racing event: http://youtu.be/63RVtUFyQck

Questions to Consider:

What is your favorite sport?

Find another country in which soccer is called football.

Find England on a world map or globe.

What animal (bird) is the national symbol of America?

Would snow boarding be a popular sport in Abu Dhabi? Why or Why not?

What kind of animal would you like to see race? What animal would be the fastest or slowest?

Learn an Arabic Word:

No -- La -- ن

Learn More About Abu Dhabi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi