What Is Life Like in Morocco?

🕐 5 min 6 sec 👦 Ages 6–8 🌍 English
Join Koko and Owlo as they explore Morocco through a new friend's eyes, learning about culture and friendship along the way!
Understand Moroccan culture and traditions Learn about friendship and inclusivity Explore global geography through maps
📖 Story Script
                    Koko:
                    Owlo! Owlo! Guess what happened at school today? We got a new student, and she is from Morocco!
                
                    Owlo:
                    Oh, how wonderful, Koko! Did you get a chance to talk to her?
                
                    Koko:
                    A little bit. Her name is Nadia, and she brought these amazing cookies to share. They had honey and almonds inside, and they were so good.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Those sound like they could be chebakia or ghriba. Those are traditional Moroccan sweets. Morocco is famous for its delicious food.
                
                    Koko:
                    I wanted to ask her more about where she is from, but I did not want to say the wrong thing. I do not know anything about Morocco.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is very thoughtful of you, Koko. How about we learn a little together? Then you can be a great friend to Nadia.
                
                    Koko:
                    Yes, please! Where even is Morocco?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Let us head to the library and pull out the big world map. I think that will help a lot.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Here we go. Morocco is a country in the very top corner of Africa. It sits right where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet.
                
                    Koko:
                    Whoa, it is right next to the sea? That sounds beautiful.
                
                    Owlo:
                    It really is. And if you look closely, Morocco is so close to Europe that you can almost see Spain from the northern coast.
                
                    Koko:
                    That is so cool. So what does Morocco actually look like? Is it all sand dunes?
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is a common thought, but Morocco has so many different landscapes. There are sandy deserts, yes, but also tall snowy mountains, green valleys, and busy coastal cities.
                
                    Koko:
                    Snow AND desert in the same country? That seems impossible.
                
                    Owlo:
                    It sounds surprising, but it is true. The Atlas Mountains run right through the middle of Morocco, and their peaks get snow in winter.
                
                    Koko:
                    I want to see that. What about the cities? What are they like?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Morocco has some very ancient and beautiful cities. Marrakech is one of the most famous. Its old city center is called a medina, which means the heart of the city.
                
                    Koko:
                    A medina. So it is like the old part of town?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Exactly right. The medinas in Morocco are full of narrow winding streets, colorful markets called souks, and the smell of spices everywhere you walk.
                
                    Koko:
                    Spices! Like the ones in the kitchen at school? What kind of spices?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and a special blend called ras el hanout. That one is a mix of many spices together, and it gives Moroccan food its unique flavor.
                
                    Koko:
                    No wonder Nadia's cookies tasted so special. What do Moroccan families do together? Like, what is a normal day like?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Family is very important in Moroccan culture. Meals are often shared together around a big low table, and the food is served in a special clay pot called a tagine.
                
                    Koko:
                    A tagine! What a fun word. What is inside it?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Usually a slow-cooked stew with vegetables, chicken or lamb, and lots of those wonderful spices. The whole family gathers and eats from the same dish together.
                
                    Koko:
                    That sounds really cozy. Like a big warm hug in food form.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is a lovely way to describe it, Koko. Sharing a meal is one of the most important ways Moroccan families show love and welcome.
                
                    Koko:
                    What language do people speak in Morocco? Because Nadia was speaking to her mom in something that did not sound like English or French.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Morocco is actually a place where people speak several languages. Arabic and Amazigh are the main ones, but many people also speak French because of Morocco's history.
                
                    Koko:
                    Amazigh? I have never heard of that one.
                
                    Owlo:
                    The Amazigh people, also called Berbers, are one of the oldest groups of people in North Africa. Their language and traditions go back thousands of years.
                
                    Koko:
                    Thousands of years! So when Nadia speaks Amazigh, she is speaking a really ancient language?
                
                    Owlo:
                    She very well might be. It is something you could ask her about. People love when others are curious about their culture in a kind way.
                
                    Koko:
                    I am going to ask her tomorrow. Maybe she can teach me a word or two.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That would make her feel very welcome, I am sure. Now, before you go, can you tell me the most important things you learned about Morocco today?
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay! Morocco is in the top corner of Africa, right next to the sea, and it has deserts AND snowy mountains, which is wild.
                
                    Koko:
                    People there eat together from a big clay pot called a tagine, and the food has amazing spices like cinnamon and cumin.
                
                    Koko:
                    The old parts of cities are called medinas, and they have colorful markets called souks. And people speak Arabic, Amazigh, and French.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is a perfect summary, Koko. You are going to be a wonderful friend to Nadia.
                
                    Koko:
                    Next time I want to learn how to say hello in Amazigh, and maybe find out what other countries are neighbors with Morocco. There is so much more to explore!