Malaysian Culture Virtual Field Trip for Kids
This virtual field trip exploring Malaysian culture will take help your children explore the music, dance, and crafts of Malaysia plus so much more. A wonderful addition to a homeschool unit or as part of a fun global education at home.
Table of contents
Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia near Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is a small country with a lot of diversity due to the three main races, Malays, Chinese and Indians.
There is also Western influence due to colonization by the British and a large expat community.
Start here
Note for parents: Before you share with your children, listen to the podcast episode Exploring Malaysian Culture and learn more yourself before embarking on an exploration as a family.
Visit Malaysia video: https://youtu.be/oOQ1SbkU_c4
About Malaysia: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/malaysia and here: https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Malaysia/275633
I loved this artistic presentation of the diversity and blend of cultures in Malaysia and if you know about Lunar New Year you will see some familiar items: https://www.behance.net/gallery/4306721/Promoting-Malaysia
Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy (the britannica article above gives more info about that) and the video below discuss that and shows the installation of a new monarch.
Malaysia’s Royal Rites-Negeri Sembilan: https://youtu.be/YQtFGjmSzrY
Books
My mother’s kitchen by Emila Yusof: https://amzn.to/39xxCjw
read aloud: https://youtu.be/C7DEoZoDaYY
Where are you, sun bear? by Eun-mi Choi: https://amzn.to/39um9RK
read aloud: https://youtu.be/eQrSRNlSbMA
Where in Asia is Malaysia: https://amzn.to/2PqeeOl
- Puteri Gambus / Princess of the Lute by Awang Fadilah: https://destinationgood.com/products/a-fadilah-puteri-gambus-princess-of-the-lute
- Land Below the Wind by Awang Fadilah: http://www.yusofgajahlingard.com/awang-fadilah.html
- Atuk’s Amazing Sarong by Lim Lay Har: https://www.oyezbookstore.com/reviews/atuks-amazing-sarong
- Legendary Princesses of Malaysia: https://www.oyezbookstore.com/reviews/legendary-princesses-of-malaysia
- Siti the Elephant by Rossiti Aishah Rashidi: https://www.oyezbookstore.com/reviews/siti-the-elephant
Arts and Crafts
Famous handicrafts overview: https://www.kualalumpurhospitality.com/blog/famous-handicrafts-and-arts-of-malaysia
50 Traditional arts, crafts, and trades: https://www.lokalocal.com/blog/culture/traditional-malaysia/
Wau, Traditional Malyasian kites: https://youtu.be/JFHLeGYdYiE
How to make your own wau (better for older kids): https://youtu.be/XkyaD56o9WA
Batik is quite a popular fabric craft here. Artists use wax to draw patterns on the fabric, then the fabric is painted or dyed. https://jadibatek.com/batik/
Malaysian batik: https://youtu.be/qovclx4aOUw
Batik from traditional to contemporary: https://youtu.be/CISR97CxOzI
Modern batik with Fern Chua: https://youtu.be/3Xg-QHK2xDs
Craft projects for kids
Various projects including wau paper mobile, Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppetry), and batik cloth napkin: https://www.kiddy123.com/article/kids-craft-ideas-national-craft-day-2019.html
Paper garland and batik painting: https://weefolkart.com/homeschool/tag/malaysian-crafts/
Music
Nobat: https://youtu.be/8m16fZv6ySo
Johor: https://youtu.be/rRSXNrAunZk
Anklong Traditional music: https://youtu.be/TuqeuIXmBBs
The Gambus: https://youtu.be/192DuYioAF8
Dance
Flash mob celebrating traditional dances and culture: https://youtu.be/XcS18EiJMMU
Malay traditional dances: https://youtu.be/IUslFYyWP2Q
Folk dances of Malaysia: https://youtu.be/0jfrgGdHliE
Food
The diversity of the different cultures (Malays, Chinese, Indians) are reflected in their food. This list by CNN covers the different types of famous dishes quite well: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/malaysian-food/index.html
Malaysian food trailer: https://youtu.be/vtIZ84_iP9k
10 Best Foods in Malaysia: https://youtu.be/pPGuFhuW5jI
Kopitiam restaurant: https://youtu.be/gtnkzyRatSU More in depth look at the restaurant https://youtu.be/2zzi7wLbLyQ
Americans and Malaysians swap snacks: https://youtu.be/vttZ2AETjWw
Highlighting different Malaysian dishes: https://youtu.be/6I4g9qI72o0
5 Malaysian dishes you need to try: https://youtu.be/9ZK2ve1zI4Q
Recipes to try
https://www.wokandskillet.com/malaysian-nasi-lemak/
https://www.wokandskillet.com/teh-tarik-malaysian-pulled-tea/
https://www.wokandskillet.com/malaysian-chicken-satay/
https://www.wokandskillet.com/malaysian-fried-noodles/
https://www.wokandskillet.com/nyonya-sambal-goreng/
https://www.wokandskillet.com/soy-sauce-braised-pork-belly-tau-eu-bak/