Cultural experience - The ASEAN flags.

ASEAN flags

In our recent trip from Mae sot we noticed colorful flags hanging beautifully each town, school and government office that we approached. We had seen the flags before but nothing significant had ever crossed our minds. Yes! We are talking about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – ASEAN flags. This includes ten countries – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines and Laos. Their main goals include improving the economies of member countries, as well as protecting and peace between the neighboring nations.

Dr. Maria Montessori was a strong advocate of peace education for children, and therefore needed children to develop as members of society and as independent individuals that support not only life but a good way to live.

Besides, ASEAN also calls to come together to ensure their young citizens in the classroom become aware of the many connections that bind them together.



Working with ASEAN flags matching cards

Immediately I imagined how beautiful the children at our classrooms would enjoy exploring the ASEAN community as part of their cultural lesson. I wrote the lesson plan and shared with my colleagues on how we could develop materials for the lesson. We introduced the lesson to a small group of children and later to individual child. We began our study by enriching the children with experience of the culture in which they are familiar before expanding to other cultures and places.

We brought pictures of ASEAN countries and their respective flags.  The flags brought a special attraction to the children. We learnt and discussed each flag as much as the children interests could hold. Later, we noticed the children physically engaging their “hands on material”. Some chose to practice walking carefully on the line with the flags and amazingly most children have mastered the flag’s names and colors as well.

Colouring the Thailand flag

The children have learned to appreciate the similarities and difference found around the ASEAN community, by recognizing the uniqueness found in food, music, greetings, holidays or festival celebrations, animals, plants, landforms, special religion or culture traditions as they make comparisons of their lifestyles with others. The lesson has also promoted an understanding to value difference in dressing, color, thoughts and physical appearance among others. The children have become more positive in their social skills approach in appreciating and strengthening their friendship with their peers and teachers from the ASEAN community and other countries in the world.