Resources for Learning About Indonesia
Published:
August 8, 2020
Contributor:
Jeannette Tuionetoa
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I didn’t know a lot about Indonesia before meeting an Indonesian girl from Australia. Explore these resources for learning about Indonesia in your next country unit study. Indonesia is an interesting country to learn about with your kiddos.
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Where is Indonesia?
I once thought Indonesia was in India. Don’t judge me. Like many others, geography is not my strong suit. The United States ranks very low in regards to geography knowledge in students.
A report from the Government Accountability Office found that more than half of social studies teachers only spend 10% of their time on geography. As of 2013, only 17 states required a geography course in middle school, and only ten states require students to take a geography course before graduating high school.
Most young Americans have a weak grasp on any global concepts. A survey report released by the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Geographic Society stated that more than two-thirds of the survey respondents couldn’t identify Indonesia as a majority-Muslim nation.
By the way, Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world!
Let’s get it together, America.
I am witness to people around the world knowing that Americans aren’t good at geography. My friends who are Australian tease me all the time about this.
I get it. America has been a superpower for eons, we have plenty of other surrounding states to travel to, and we are self-sufficient. That makes it easy for us to look within ourselves and not worry too much about other nations.
However, learning about the world around us is really important. Many of our kids, whether we like to admit it or not, will leave the nest and travel abroad.
Globalization is also not just a far-reaching myth. It is actually on the minds of many worldwide authorities and organizations. We should teach our kids about what is going on in the world around us and what is going on where.
Rant over. Back to Indonesia.
Indonesia is quite a fascinating country to learn about. Here are a few reasons why:
-Indonesia is the fourth-most densely populated nation in the world after China, the United States, and India. It has 264 MILLION people.
Here is a comparison. Australia has a landmass of 7 million km² and has 24 million people. Indonesia has a landmass of 1.9 million km², but its population is 11 times more than Australia!
-Jakarta is the capital and largest city in Indonesia, which is on the island of Java. The island of Java houses 60% of Indonesia’s population (130 million people), making it the world’s most populous island. Here is the kicker… It is only the size of New York City.
-Indonesia is the largest archipelago (an area of sea in which there are many small islands) in the world. It has five major islands and thousands of smaller ones between the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
There are over 18,000 islands, and only 6,000 of those islands are inhabited.
-There are over 400 volcanoes in Indonesia, and 100 of them are active. The country is part of the Pacific Rim “Ring of Fire.”
Why is there a ring of natural disasters around the Pacific? | Vox
Facts About the Ring of Fire | National Geographic
The Ring of Fire | NatGeo Kids
-Kids will find it interesting that Indonesia is one of the largest social media markets in the world, with over 80% of its population accessing various social networks like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Twitter.
-Indonesia has a VERY large flower called the Rafflesia Arnoldi. Some say it is the world’s largest flower. The flower looks a little gross to me, but worse yet – it is known for smelling like decaying flesh and is also known as the corpse flower or corpse lily.
There are many other facts your kids will find intriguing, but here is the coolest one by far.
-Indonesia is home to the largest lizard in the world – the Komodo Dragon. It only lives in five of the islands Padar, Rinca, Gili Motang, Flores, and Komodo. They weigh up to 150 lbs and have toxic bites. Yes, they hunt humans as well. Maybe keep this little fact from your kiddos.
Grab these resources to help you with learning about Indonesia in your homeschool:
Indonesia FREE Theme Unit | edHelper.com
Fun Indonesia Facts for Kids | Science Kids
Indonesia Flag | FREE Printable Flags
100 Facts About Indonesia (True and False Cards in English NO PREP) | Think Bahasa
Indonesia Facts for Kids | Kids.Kiddle
Learn About Indonesia & Its History | Kid World Citizen
Indonesia Country Study | Thematic Worksheets
8 Fun Facts About Indonesia | Multicultural Kid Blogs
FREE Indonesia Mini-Unit Study | Teach Me Joy
Indonesia Facts for Kids | Easy Science For Kids
FREE Indonesia Lesson Plans, Games, Activities | Mr.Donn
Indonesian Hobbies NO PREP Packet (Poster, Flash Cards, Worksheets) | Think Bahasa
Focus on Indonesia! Country Profile and Geographical Info | GEOgraphy Focus
The items below will help you develop mini-lessons to teach basic Indonesian to your kids.
FREE Countries of Asia Notebooking Journal
Learn Indonesian Vocabulary with Pictures – Farm Animals | Learn Indonesian with IndonesianPod101.com
Learn Indonesian Vocabulary with Pictures – Weather Forecast | Learn Indonesian with IndonesianPod101.com
My body – body parts in Indonesian | Learning with Valerie and Anne
Indonesian Family Flashcards | Think Bahasa
Transportation in Indonesian (Worksheets & Answer Keys) | Think Bahasa
Learn Indonesian Alphabet (A – Z in Bahasa Indonesia) | Think Bahasa
Indonesian language: Colors lesson | Think Bahasa
Make your geography lessons fun and engaging with these activities and crafts:
Animals In Indonesian Folktales + Activities | Kid World Citizen
Indonesian National Monument FREE Cutout | Paper Toys
DIY Batik Indonesia Fan – Craft Kids Can Make | Marcellina Maria
Fun and Easy Fabric Batik Art Craft for Kids | Thimble and Twig
It’s Cool to Learn about Countries: Indonesia (FREE on Kindle) | Tamra Orr
FREE Indonesia Flag | Crayola
Komodo Dragon From Komodo Island Indonesia FREE Coloring Pages | Color Nimbus
Don’t let geography disappear from your homeschool plan. Geography creates awareness of location in regards to the rest of the entire world. It also makes sense of the historical and current events happening around the world.
Begin or add Indonesia to your country studies; these resources for learning about Indonesia are great places to start.