Cambodia Culture Kit•a complete list of itemscontained in the kit•featured themes •curriculum ideas

Item Description Qty

Monkey Mask

This is a miniature version of the mask whichCambodian dancers wear when they dance as the mag-ical monkey Hanuman. Such a mask is made of paper mache and takes about a week to fashion.

Silver Bracelet

This silver bracelet is in traditional Cambodian design. These bracelets are worn by Cambodian women and children. Cambodians often give their children jewlrey, especially with bells, to alert the parents if a stray demon tries to snatch their child away.

Cambodian Baskets Common Cambodian baskets from which merchants typically sell their products.

Krama

The krama is used by people in Cambodia to do many things. It is a scarf which rural Cambodians often wear while working in the fields for sun protection, when travelling to keep dust from their eyes, when transporting heavy objects to stabilize them on their heads or when bathing in the river to wrap around their waist.

Cambodian Fabric

Woven Bag from Artisan Angkor

Artisans Angkor is dedicated to reviving ancient Khmer Arts & Crafts, such as silk-making, stone and wood carving, lacquering and painting while improving the lives of thousands of people living in rural areas.

Cambodian Postcards Several Cambodian postcards featuring Cambodian landscape, architecture, culture and everyday life.

Children’s Khmer Script Workbook A common children’s workbook featuring grids to assist young students in mastering the Khmer Script.

Children’s Khmer Script Workbook A common children’s workbook featuring grids to assist young students in mastering the Khmer Script.

Children’s Khmer WorkbookA common children’s workbook featuring illustrations and accompanying Khmer to assist young students in mastering everyday words and actions in Khmer.

Dara’s Cambodian New Year Teacher’s Guide

Traditional Field Plays and Games Textile Textile illustrating traditional field games

Cambodian Flag

The national flag of Cambodia was readopted in 1993, after elections returned the monarchy to rule. The Cambodian flag holds the distinction of being the only flag in the world to feature a building in its design. Red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors.

(3)

Southeast Asian Maps Two maps of Southeast Asia featuring Cambodia. (2)

National Geographic Issue*includes posters of Khmer Empire and Monsoon Latitudes of South-

east Asia

This National Geographic issue features Angkor, a region of Cambodia that once was the center of the Khmer empire. Angkor had been the largest, preindustrial city – the closest rival being the Mayan city of Tikal. Angkor flourished between the ninth and thir-teenth centuries.

National Geographic Issue

This National Geographic issue from January 2012 features an article on Cambodia’s continuing struggle to clear the millions of landmines placed in the country during 30 years of conflict.

Cambodia & Phnom PenhA Cambodian road map featuring Phnom Penh [capital of Cambodia], Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and Sihankoukville.

2004 Sarika Issue

This issue of Sarika, a magazine featured in Siem Reap Airways aircraft, looks at four musicians who have began to learn Khmer instruments, an artist who paints Cam-bodian landscape, and features information on the Cam-bodian tourism industry.

Musical Figurines

Included in the culture kit are different figurines from a Cambodian instrumental ensemble called a “pin peat” ensemble. This collection of instruments is thought to have evolved from the Angkor period in Cambodia, so they are quite old. Musicians play music without any kind of musical score. Musical knowledge is passed down orally with no use of notation.

Roneat [xylophone]

The roneat is an important melody instrument in Khmer instrumental ensembles, including the “pin peat” ensembles. The roneat is found in different sizes, and is made of metal or bamboo.

Sampho and Skor Thom [barrel drums]

The sampho is a small barrel drum and is considered to be one of the most important of the Khmer musical in-struments. It is made from hollowed wood and tightened calf-skin at either end. The sampho controls the tempo and regulates rhythmic cycles. The skor thom, also barrel drums, are typically played in pairs. The drums are tuned such that one will give a bright sound when struck, while the other gives a lower and more flat tone.

(2 Skor Thom)

Chhing [cymbals]

A chhing is a small pair of cymbals, like the ones which this figurine is playing, and are used in “pin peat” ensembles.

Khloy [flute]

The Khmer flute, khoy, is one of the most popular instruments in Cambodia. This is partly because it is easily made from bamboo. Many people in the countryside play the khloy during travel or while watching cattle.

Korng Thomm [gongs]

These are circular gongs which are placed around the player who sits in the middle. A big korng has 12 gongs, while others have a smaller number.

(2)

Apsara Dancers

Apsara dancers performing a traditional Cambodian dance. At the temples of Angkor Wat, there are many dancers identical to her on the walls. She wears a garland of flowers around her neck.

(2 pairs)

Phra Mae Thorani[Goddess of the Earth]

Phra Mae Thorani is a Buddhist goddess recognized as the Goddess of the Earth. She is often shown wringing the cool waters of detachment out of her hair. The water drowns the forces of temptation sent by the demon, Mara to distract the Buddha as he meditated under the Bodhi tree.

Moni Mekhala [goddess of the sea]

and Ream Eyso [giant]

The goddess, Moni Mekhala, and the giant, Ream Eyso, form a legend outlining the origin of thunder and lightning. Ream Eyso’s axe flying toward the goddess cre-ates thunder, while Mekhala’s sparkling ball lights up the heavens. Together they bring rain, the symbol of renewed life as it imparts fertility to Cambodian farmlands.

RuesiThe Reusi are Hermit sages who spend their time meditating, collecting herbs, rarities and other substances.

Major Themes: Music; Clothing; Crafts, EducationCurriculum Ideas

Grade 3Module 2A: Researching to Build Knowledge and Teaching OthersModule 2B: Connecting Literary and Informational Texts to Culture “Then and Now”

Grade 6Module 1: Myths: Not Just Long AgoMoni Mekhala and Ream Eyso: The Folktale of Thunder and Lightning http://fellowsblog.ted.com/tag/monimekhalaandreameyso

Module 3: Understanding Perspectives

Grade 9

Landmines in Cambodia + the History of the Khmer Rouge

Cambodia Culture Kit