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How To Plan Your Own Caravan

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How To Plan Your Own Caravan

Welcome to Oman! This is the 3rd part of our exploration in the country Oman. In…

  • Part 1 we looked at a country map, the national flag, and some fun facts.
  • Part 2 I interviewed my daughter’s 4th grade C.H.A.R.G.E. class about life in Oman.
  • And today, in Part 3, I am going to share…

5 steps to help you plan your very own caravan through an Omani desert.

Plan Your Own Caravan

Step 1: Read This Description of A Caravan & List Of Camel Facts

A caravan is a group of people and animals that travel together on a long journey through the desert. Trade and travel by caravans can be traced back to the start of recorded history. Travelers were often merchants or pilgrims who banded together for protection and packed their belongings on camels. They rode camels because these animals are perfectly suited for life in the desert. Let’s find out why.

10 Reasons Why Camels Are Suited For The Desert

  1. Their humps store fat allowing camels to live up to 30 days without eating. Dromedary camels have 1 hump, while Bractrion camels have 2 humps.
  2. The coats or hair on camels reflect the sun. This keeps them cool in extremely hot weather. It can also keep them warm in cold weather.
  3. The reason camels have long eyelashes is not so they can show off and wear mascara. It helps keep desert sand and dust out of their eyes.
  4. Camels actually have 3 sets of eyelids with 2 rows of eyelashes! (that would require lots of mascara)
  5. Camels also keep sand and dust out of their bodies by closing their nostrils.
  6. Camels have thick lips so they can eat thorny brush in the desert.
  7. They can travel 25 miles a day at the rate of 3 miles per hour.
  8. Camels can hold a lot of weight. They usually carry about 400 pounds but it’s possible for them to hold up to 900 pound.
  9. Camels are nicknamed “ships of the desert” because they can transport large quantities of goods.
  10. Our 1 and 2 humped friends usually live to be 40-50 years old.

Step 2: Print Out This Caravan Packing List 

Buy this on Selz
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How To Plan Your Own Caravan

Step 3: Watch 1, 2, Or All 3 Of These Youtube Videos About Caravans & Camels To Get Ideas Of What To Pack For Your Caravan Adventure. Fill Out Your Caravan Packing Printable While You Watch!

Video 1 at a desert camp called Ramalat Al Wahiba in Oman is embedded below and links for Videos 2 & 3 are right underneath this box.

Video 2: Trek Through A Sudanese Desert

Video 3: Longer 13 minute video of a White Desert Camel Caravan in Egypt.

Step 4: Print Out This Camel Mask Over At Sparklebox

Plan Your Own Caravan

Step 5: Gather All Your Caravan Supplies Such As Blankets, Food, Goods To Trade etc. And Start Your Imaginary Journey Across The Desert. Choose Someone Or Something To Be The Camel. He, She, Or It Can Wear The Mask. Don’t forget to pack plenty of water!

I hope you have fun on your journey! Before I go, I have a favor to ask. Could you tell me 3 things you wrote down on your packing list? Please leave your answer in the comment section. Thanks so much! Can’t wait til we meet again next week for part 4 of our Oman exploration.

Are you here from the Blogelina Commentathon? I’d love it if you’d follow me on…

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This post is linked up over at… Smart Schoolhouse , Sincerely Paula , With A Blast ,Cornerstone Confessions , Social Media Saturdays , Laugh & Learn Link Up , Castleview Academy, Education Possible , All Things With Purpose , Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop, Bowl Full Of Lemons, Jennifer Dawn, Strangers & Pilgrims On Earth , Mom Resource

 

Comments

  4. Patricia says

    Did not expect to learn so many amazing facts about camels. Can’t say a caravan is in my near future, but just in case I have your handy dandy list ready to go. Enjoy the “commentathon”

    • Mommy Maleta says

      Hi Patricia. Glad you enjoyed the camel facts! I’ll have to reword this post a bit…I am thinking that kids can imagine they are going on a caravan & can make a list of what they would bring. Thx so much for stopping by!!

  5. emma says

    I don’t think I’ve heard of the country of Oman before. I looked at the other posts you’ve written about it and it looks stunning!

    I loved the camel facts. I knew a few already, but I learned a lot too 🙂

    Happy Commentathon!

    • Mommy Maleta says

      Thanks Emma! I had heard of Oman, but did not know a lot about this country prior to writing the post. From all the photos I’ve seen, Oman looks stunning! I am definitely ready to board a plane for a lengthy visit.

  7. Felicia says

    How interesting!! I am shocked that I knew so much about the camel, except I thought the hump held water and I didn’t know about the extra eyelashes!! Awesome!! I won’t be going anyone soon but if I ever do, you have well equipped me!! Thanks!

    • Mommy Maleta says

      Well you are all set if you are ever on Jeopardy and the category “Camels” happens to appear! Thx for stopping by Felicia.

  8. Jennie says

    This is fascinating! I didn’t know all that about camels. I think I’d pack water, water, and water. I’m sort of terrified of dying of thirst in the desert, lol…

  9. Patrice M Foster says

    How To Plan Your Own Caravan about camel this is great learning experience not only for kids but me. The video was on point not in my future but I enjoy watching. Thanks for sharing.

    • Mommy Maleta says

      Patrice, I’m glad this was a great learning experience for you! I know I always learn so much when I write these posts.

  10. Toiia L. Rukuni says

    I learned so many cool facts about camels. My kids would love to do an activity like this for a time when we have a break from daily school activities. I think that the video is a great addition to the activity too. Thanks for sharing!

  11. Mitch Mitchell says

    Goodness… Oman? lol I figure I need to know the U.S. much better than I do before I learn about Oman, though there is appreciation for how people get around on camels. I just can’t imagine it; freaks me out. 🙂

    • Mommy Maleta says

      I know what you mean about riding camels. I have never had the opportunity to try it yet…it does seem like it would be a bit awkward.

    • Mommy Maleta says

      Ellie, I would love to hear how your adapted caravan activity goes with preschoolers. Please let me know!

  14. Sinziana says

    Hey there! It was so fun and relaxing for me to read this! The camel faces always make me laugh and feel amused…they are so cute…lol.
    Kisses!

  16. Sherri S says

    This is fantastic!! My girls will love doing this, they won’t even realize that they are “learning” at the same time. What a great idea, thanks for much for posting this!

  17. Howard @ Backroad Planet says

    So much I can say about this post. My parents were missionaries to Latin America, so I know the value of traveling abroad as a child. As a veteran middle school teacher of 35 years, I appreciate the value of making travel an educational experience, whether vicarious or for real. Great concept you have here!

    • Mommy Maleta says

      Thanks so much Howard! Your comments mean so much to me, especially based on your experience traveling abroad as a child!

  19. Meagan says

    This is a lot of great info. I can see pairing this with a trip to the zoo to ride the camels, but that is about as close as I am going to get anytime soon. Now I just need to find some kids to teach this to.

  20. Laurina says

    What an educational blog to help children learn about other countries! I have never studied Omani at all before this, so I learned something new.

  21. Lexi says

    I love this creative caravan activity! If only I could go there for real 🙂 I’d pack scarves to wear over my hair, hand sanitizer (lol) and sunscreen!! Also, I laughed about the camels needing a lot of mascara.

  22. Chrystal @ YUM eating says

    What a great post. I never thought about a caravan with camels. Of course, I cant say that I have even thought about a trip to the desert. Looks like fun for the right person.

    • Mommy Maleta says

      I think it would be an amazing experience which definitely isn’t on a daily to do list. More like a once in a lifetime bucket list! But hopefully kids will enjoy this imaginary caravan at home as a way to learn about a vastly different part of the world!

  23. Gwen says

    That’s funny, the children and I were reading about Oman this morning! So we will have a look at this page together and I will Pin your camel packing list. Really like the fonts and graphics on your site 🙂

  26. Eyeland Gurl says

    Still laughing at the mascara comment! This post is funny, informative and engaging all at once. I hope that one day I’ll be able to visit Oman and travel in a caravan. And because you asked so nicely, I will follow you on Pinterest. Cheers!

  27. Rachael says

    I recently took my 3-year-old to the zoo in Miami Florida and they have a camel named Fluffy that we took a ride on. It was an amazing experience and they are very tall! I had to go up a stairway and then swing one leg over to board the camel (prayed that I didn’t fall) . My DD was all smiles and we caught it on video too. I think this makes for a great extended lesson if you are planning a trip to the zoo, just check in advance if there is a camel there :)!

    • Mommy Maleta says

      What a cool experience Rachael! This would make a great extended lesson. I have not had the chance to ride a camel, but I did ride an elephant with my husband in Thailand!

  29. Amanda Marie says

    What a GREAT idea! I actually learned a few things about camels that I did not know! This is a great way to share knowledge with your children and still have fun while doing it! There is so much to learn and adding a creative spin on something is a great way for children to learn and to remember as well! I always remember the times when I had fun learning as oppose to sitting at a desk listening! Thanks for sharing!

  31. Penny says

    What a fun activity for homeschool geography fun! As a mom of 2 highly visual kids, your blog is a treasure trove of information. I look forward to following you !

    • Mommy Maleta says

      Love the idea of packing for a trip to the moon! Would you ever be interested in writing a guest post for me about that?

  35. Karmen says

    This is a great idea. I don’t have any items on my caravan list yet but the kids and I are doing a world history curriculum next year that includes a unit on the desert so I am going to Pin this for later and I’ll come back by to tell you what we choose for our caravan!

  38. Carrie says

    OMG, this is so cute! I absolutely love the mask!

    Very creative idea. I’m so thankful for you crafty people since I don’t have a single creative bone in my body! haha!

    • Mommy Maleta says

      I like the camel mask too! There is a B&W version you can color, or you can print out the color version.

    • Mommy Maleta says

      Thank you so much Jennie! I hope you will explore the countries under the “countries” tab on my site!

  41. Christina says

    This is a great wrap up for a study unit. It makes me wish we were still homeschooling…wait, we don’t have to homeschool to do this. I just figured out what my family will be doing this weekend 🙂

  42. Victoria says

    This will be some helpful information that I can share with my kids when we explore Countries and Cultures next year in our home school. Thankyou!

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