The Negev is the southern part of Israel including its desert and canyon region; from Beersheva all the way down to  Eilat. It covers approximately 5,140 square miles; more than half of Israel's total land area. The negev receives 2-4 inches of rainfall annually. The climate is hot and dry, typical of a desert. In the summer, the nights are cool. The low humidity is ideal for someone suffering from asthma.
    Noteworthy sights are the Joe Alon Museum of Bedouin Culture at Kibbutz Lahav, the Beduin city of Rahat, the Airforce Museum at Hatzerim, the Nabatean and Byzantine ruins at Avdat, the alpaca farm at Mitzpeh Ramon. The Hai Bar Nature Reserve, and Timna Park, site of King Solomon's copper mines.
    The major cities in the Negev are Beersheva, Dimona, Arad, Eilat. An important area of the Negev is The Dead Sea.
 

The Dead Sea
    The Dead Sea, which is 1,340 below sea level,  is the lowest water surface on earth. The Dead Sea is nearly seven times as salty as an ocean, and it therefore causes everyone to float on the surface. The Dead Sea is dead.  There is no life within the Dead Sea except for a few varieties of microbes. Many chemical products are extracted very cheaply from the Dead Sea. Because the Dead Sea is the lowest body of water on the Earth's surface, any water that flows into it has no outflow. As the water evaporates, dissolved minerals are left behind.

Activity:  There are alot of kvetches (chronic complainers) in your family with various aches and pains. What ailments can be cured at the Dead Sea? Discuss the various natural minerals found there, how they are used, how they were formed?

Check out the following resources. Beware of websites that are advertisments rather than reliable, unbiased sources: The Dead Sea,

Activity: Journey Through the Negev - Divide the class into 2-4 groups. Have each group pick a different time period to travel through the Negev. The time periods could vary from time of Abraham, 1920's, 1960's, or currently. Groups should research

• different methods of transportation available
• waterholes, wadis, inns, or hotels
• what type of supplies should they take along (food, medical, clothing, etc.)
• relevant history of the time period (is the area in the midst of a warzone?)
• animals and plants of the time
• means of communication - if they get lost or need help

Activity: Discuss and find photographs of the various types of flora and fauna growing in the desert environment. Cover the following points:

• plants which grow naturally in the desert environment
• plants which have been artificially cultivated
• how are artificially cultivated plants maintained?
• Where are different plants found?
• What are the water sources for the plants?

Activity: Research and write about the nomadic Bedouin tribes. Where did they come from? Where and how do they live now? What are their major sources of income?
Activity: Research and write about camels. How have they adapted to life in Israel? Are they helpful or detrimental to the Israeli or Bedouin population? How?
Activity: Visit the kibbutzim in the Negev and in other parts of Israel. Compare and contrast the styles of living? How old are the kibbutzim? What is the major source of income of each kibbutz? How does the location impact the source of income, style of living? How are the children educated on each kibbutz? What form of government exists on each kibbutz? Is that connected at all to the age of the kibbutz? How have different kibbutzim adapted to different periods of time and the conditions of the country? Note to the teacher: This activity could be done in the form of a database, thus teaching the use and advantages of a database in an educational setting. The class could decide on the fieldnames and could then be divided into groups to research the many kibbutzim throughout Israel. The database could help with the comparisons of information. (For example: would a kibbutz in the north or south be more likely to grow citrus oranges, olives, dates, etc.)
 Kibbutz Shoval
 Kibbutz Yahel

Eilat
Learn about Eilat
   Eilat has a population of 26,000 people. It is located on the Gulf of Aqaba (an arm of the Red Sea), near the Sinai Peninsula, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. It's Israel's gateway to Africa and East Asia.
    During the 10th century BCE, during the time of King Solomon, Eilat was near the port of Ezion-geber. It was rebuilt by King Uzziah of Judah and lost to the Syrians (8th century BCE) by King Ahaz. Eilat was resettled in 1949 and its deepwater harbor opened in 1965.

Activity:
Let's learn about dolphins.
                    1.origin of name, stories, mythology, mammals,
                       mammal characteristics, senses, and diet.
                    2.Family - distribution of tasks, hierarchy, reproduction, and
                       offspring rearing.
                    3.Communication - How do dolphins communicate?
                    4.Enemies - Man, pollution
                    5.Environment - Preservation - What can we do?

Some Resources: Dolphin Reef,     Coral World,
Go to the Webcam and watch the dolphins live!

Advanced Activity: Materials required: Spreadsheet program (preferrably on computer!)
Create a spreadsheet comparing the daily weather (temperature, humidity, rainfall) of your city and several cities in Israel. Choose a site in the north, a coastal city, and a city in the Negev. At the end of each month, calculate the average for each month. At the end of the year, create a graph demonstrating your data. You can access daily weather reports for any city in the world at Weatherlabs.

Israel Facts Page - for more information and links to other resources
Home to Israelity