Cultural Festivals and Traditions
We observe and celebrate Indonesian festivals such as Independence Day and Kartini Day. We also held a multicultural day in which our teachers taught the students traditional dances, sang traditional songs, and shared stories and photos from their home islands, allowing students to connect with the Indonesian traditions most closely connected to our community.
Language and Stories
Our bilingual curriculum emphasizes both English and Bahasa Indonesia so that students from a variety of language backgrounds are actively becoming bi, tri, or in some cases, quadrilingual! We are incorporating more Indonesian folktales, songs, and poems into weekly lessons also, helping students appreciate the beauty of the language and its cultural significance.
Arts and Crafts
Our students love crafts! To make these activities more multicultural, we weave in traditional Indonesian handicrafts (kerajinan tangan) such as batik painting, making wayang puppets, and creating traditional masks. These activities provide hands-on experiences that connect students to Indonesian artistic heritage.
Cooking and Cuisine
We introduce students to Indonesian cuisine through offering snacks that include Indonesian staples like tempe and egg. We have also presented cooking activities where they learn to prepare local dishes like sup sayur (vegetable soup) and cireng (a specialty snack made from tapioca flour). This not only teaches them about Indonesian food but also builds a lot of excitement and understanding of different culinary traditions.
By weaving Indonesian culture into our curriculum, Bumi Kecil helps students develop a strong understanding of and deep appreciation for their country of residence. Join us in celebrating Indonesian culture this Independence Day, August 17th!