Extra Activities for Morocco
Did you enjoy the Morocco Country Quest? There’s plenty more to learn about Morocco. In fact, Zeke’s set some additional challenges - can you complete them?
Some activities need a grown up to help you - don’t try to do them on your own or the Department will be furious
Make a mosaic
You’ve seen Zeke’s mosaic tile for his bathroom, so why not try making your own? There are quite a few ways to make a mosaic - you can use paper, glass blocks, even sweeties!
Mosaics made from paper are the most simple (although you will need to use scissors, so ask a grown up first!). Gather together some sheets of paper (about 3 different colours is best) and cut them into different shapes - try squares, rectangles, triangles and pentagons.
When you’re ready, arrange them onto another piece of paper in a square. If you’re trying to make a Moroccan style tile, make sure the shapes are arranged the same on both sides. Each side should be a reflection of the other - this is called being symmetrical. Moroccan tiles are almost always symmetrical.
When you’re happy with how it looks, stick the pieces down with glue and wait to dry. You can hang your tiles on the wall when you’re done!
Colouring pages
We’ve got some Morocco-themed colouring in pages if you feel like it, or if you’ve got a younger brother or sister who wants to join in. Colouring in can be a great way to relax - even for adults! Questa’s favourite thing to do is put on an audiobook and listen while she’s colouring. At the moment she’s listening to Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms.
Plan a Tea Ceremony
Why not throw a tea party with mint tea? In Morocco it’s very common to welcome guests with mint tea and cookies.
You’ll need mint, sugar, glasses and a grown up to help with the hot water.
Fun fact!
In Morocco, the higher you pour the water into a glass, the more respect you have for your guest. Check out these guys! BUT, this isn’t safe to do unless you’re a professional. Practice with COLD water if you want to try.
Put the mint leaves into the glass, as many as possible, then add some sugar. Pour hot water from a kettle into the glass, then leave it to cool until it’s a safe temperature to drink. Be extremely careful with hot liquids, as they can burn you in the same way that fire does.
Make sure not to stir the sugar! Although you may be used to doing that, in Morocco it’s not the right way to do it. If you let the sugar dissolve by itself, the flavour can develop better.
Fun Fact! In Morocco, the higher you pour the water into a glass, the more respect you have for your guest. Check out these guys! BUT, this isn’t safe to do unless you’re a professional. Practice with COLD water if you want to try.
Don’t forget to have some delicious cookies with your tea. Plus, it’s traditional to drink tea while sitting on the floor on a carpet or rug.
Grow crocuses and make saffron
Saffron is one of the most important things sold in Morocco. Questa and Zeke learned about saffron when they visited Spain - you might remember that it’s very expensive because it’s so difficult to harvest. Saffron is grown all across the north of Morocco and it’s harvested every year.
Although it’s hard work to harvest lots of saffron, you can grow your own in the garden. You might not make very much, but it’s fun!
Saffron comes from the Crocus Sativus, which is a type of purple crocus. You can plant them outside (in September) or inside, in a pot (any time of year). Here are some instructions for how to plant crocus flowers:
Here are some tips on growing Crocus Sativus.
Once the crocus flowers have grown, you’ll see little orange stalks sticking out of them. That’s the saffron! If you want to harvest them, pull them out very gently, with your fingers or with a pair of tweezers. When you’ve gathered enough, lay them out on some kitchen paper in the sun to dry. After a day, pop them in a small glass bottle and wait until you need to use them for cooking!
Dabble in some research activities
Are you interested in a bit more research? Why not try some additional research activities? Follow the links below and find out more about Moroccan animals and insects. Once you’re done, write a small report on each one. If you write a summary, we’ll make sure to put it up online!
Remember, you can always do extra research to learn more!
What do you know about Moroccan Sand Cats?
Copy Malika Agueznay’s paintings
If you’re a keen artist, you’ll like this activity! Moroccan artist Malika Agueznay makes beautiful paintings using extraordinary shapes. Here, take a look:
Try copying some of Malika’s art. Make sure to use bright colours and curving shapes. You can copy her work exactly, or make your own version of it. Don’t forget to send it to us at info@questakids.com!
ASK ZEKE: Isn’t that copying?
Technically, yes it is copying. But it’s very normal for artists who are learning to copy the work of other artists - people have done it for thousands of years! It’s only a problem if you pretend it’s your work and your idea. So long as you say, “This is my copy of Malika Agueznay’s work” then it’s fine!
Make Ma’amoul
Try making the delicious snack that Questa and Zeke tried in the Moroccan kitchen! Ma’amoul are cookies with dates in the middle.
Once you’ve made a bunch of them, you can store them in a fridge for an after-school snack.
Make Djaj Mqualli
This is the recipe that Questa and Zeke are asked to price a shopping list for - but they never got to eat it! So if you want to try it, you can make it yourself.
Remember with cooking, you should always ask a grown up to help you - especially for this recipe which uses raw chicken.
ASK ZEKE: What’s wrong with raw chicken?
Raw chicken can sometimes be a bit dangerous, because it can carry a type of bacteria called Salmonella which can make you sick. It’s really important to wash everything that touches the raw chicken, including knives, chopping boards, bowls and hands! Once the chicken is cooked, then it’s fine to touch, because all the bacteria have been killed by the high temperatures.
This recipe has chicken, olives and lemon in it, and is usually cooked in a tajine, although you can also make it in a pot with a lid as well. Vegetarians can replace the chicken with vegan chicken.
Make sun prints
This is a really fun experiment to show the power of the sun! It only works on a really sunny day though, so save it up! You’ll also need to start early-ish in the day to get the full benefit of the sun.
You’ll need some construction paper (also called sugar paper) in bright colours. You can also use sun paper, which gives a much more dramatic effect, but you’re less likely to have it lying around the house.
1. Gather objects from around the house and garden that will make good shapes. Leaves work well, but so do toys with a clear outline. The clearer the outline, the better the print will be.
2. Place the object on the paper and cover with a layer of cling film, or a piece of plexiglas. Make sure the edges are weighted down in case the wind tries to blow the paper away! Leave out in the sun for as long as possible - at least 2 hours.
3. Resist the urge to lift up the object and check - you might ruin it!
4. Once you’re ready, take the object off. There should be a shape left on the paper. That’s because the power of the sun has faded the rest of the paper, but the object in front of it blocked the other parts, leaving the original colour behind.
Pretty impressive for a few hours of sunshine!
Make a sun tower
Here’s another science experiment to show the power of the sun! A sun tower is a way to show how the heat of the sun causes air to push upwards - remember, hot air rises!
You’ll need a few things for this experiment:
3 empty tin cans, with the tops and bottoms removed (a grown up should do this for you using a tin opener)
A paper clip
Sellotape or masking tape
A pin or thumbtack
Two big books
Some paper, scissors and a pencil
When you’ve got all your equipment together we can start!
Place the 3 empty tin cans on top of each other and tape them together.
Be very careful about jagged metal on the tops and bottoms of the tins - it’s sharp!Unfold the paperclip all the way, so it’s one long piece of wire.
Shape it into an arch, then tape each side of the arch onto either side of the top tin can.Tape a thumbtack onto the middle of the wire arch, with the point facing upwards.
Put two books side by side, then push them apart so there’s a gap between them.
Place the tin can tower on top of the books, making sure the gap is underneath the tower.Make a pinwheel using this technique.
Balance the pinwheel on top of the thumbtack CAREFULLY, then push it through.
The pin wheel should turn quite easily if you spin it with a finger. You may need to wiggle it around a bit to make sure it turns properly.Make sure your tower and the books under it are in direct sunlight - the hotter the better.
When the heat from the sun warms up the tin cans, the hot air will rise up the tower. When the air hits the pinwheel, it will turn it, making it spin!