Newspapers In Education Visit NIE online at www.sidneydailynews.com, www.troydailynews.com or www.dailycall.com
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he Middle East is not a continent but a geographical region where three continents – Europe, Asia, and Africa – meet. It is this prime location that is mainly responsible for its historical importance and cultural identity. As long ago as 2000 B.C., the region that we now call the Middle East (it actually wasn’t called that until World War II) was a center of commerce and culture. Over the course of history, this area has been the location of several great civilizations, including the Persian Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the Ancient Egyptians.
Word of the Week export — derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country
NIE Coordinator: Dana Wolfe / Graphic Designer: Scarlett E. Smith
This region is also important because it was the birthplace of three of the world’s most widely followed religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Today, the majority of people living in the Middle East are Muslims, or followers of Islam. In ancient and medieval times, cities in the Middle East were important centers of culture and commerce. Since World War II, the Middle East has taken on even more political and economic significance because it is the location of the world’s greatest known oil reserves. Oil is exported by the countries along the Persian Gulf to places all over the world.
The languages of the Middle East include Arabic, Persian (or Farsi), Turkish, and Hebrew. Some small communities, isolated by deserts and mountains, developed their own languages and distinct cultures, and many of those still exist today. The landscape of the Middle East is made up of mountains, dry plateaus, and deserts. The climate is mostly arid, or very dry. Although there are several great international airports in the Middle East, travel within the countries is still fairly primitive. Camels, donkeys, and other draft animals are only gradually being replaced by motorized vehicles as the primary means of transport.
middle east
Newspaper Knowledge
PASSPORT TO: MIDDLE EAST
Use your mind! Look through your newspaper for 20 unfamiliar words. Make a crossword puzzle using their definitions. Share your puzzle with a friend.
it’s news to me:
Using what you’ve learned from your newspaper, write five original headlines about how events in the Middle East affect the United States.
Did You Know? • The Arabian Desert is the world's second largest desert. The largest is the North African desert, the Saharan.
14. Using your newspaper’s international weather map or listing of temperatures in world cities, calculate the average temperature for that day in the Middle East. Now, calculate the average temperature in the United States and compare the difference. How does the difference reflect the climatic differences between the regions? Explain in a brief paragraph.
statistics Choose one Middle Eastern country and find out the following:
• The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth at 409 meters below sea level.
Capital:_________________________________________ Language:_______________________________________
• The Nile River in Egypt is the world's longest river.
Type of government:________________________________
15. Look for articles in your newspaper about Middle Eastern oil and its importation and use in the United States. Based on the articles, what conclusions can you draw about the trade relationships between the United States and Middle Eastern oil suppliers? Discuss your ideas as a class.
Head of government:_______________________________
• The largest city in the Middle East is Cairo, Egypt.
Topography:______________________________________ Major exports:______________________________________
Word Scramble
Major industries:__________________________________
Can you unscramble these words? uurlcte __________________ usmMlis__________________ seedrt __________________ auanggel ________________ mcaels __________________ ilo ______________________
Typical dress:______________________________________ What are the schools there like?________________________
let’s research it:
There is often conflict among the Middle Eastern countries. Using your newspaper as a guide, choose a region that is currently facing problems. Find out what those problems are and how they relate to the region’s history. Make note of U.S. involvement. What conclusions can you draw?
16. Draw a picture of a scene from the Middle East as you imagine it. Be prepared to explain why you drew what you did.
________________________________________________
tidbits
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• Muhammed, the founder of Islam, was born in Mecca about 570 A.D. Today, more than 90 percent of Middle Eastern people are Muslim.
Answers: culture, Muslims, desert, language, camels, oil
Fall Tab-a-pull-ooza for Miami & Shelby County Schools In observance of America Recycles Day on November 15th, the Green Gals are having a fall Tab-a-pull-ooza Contest. All monies raised will be given to the Dayton Ronald McDonald House. Any school can participate in this contest in either Miami or Shelby County. A drop-off location will be given to the contact person. Tabs will be collected through November 16th. Prizes will be awarded to the school with the most collected tabs by weight. Registration form for Tab-a-pull-ooza Please Print More information/paperwork will be sent to you after registration is received. Contact Name: ____________________________________ School/County: ____________________________________ Phone Number: ____________________________________ Email:____________________________________________
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