ZAMASAMA PRESENTS
A Guide for Teachers and Parents
Written and Illustrated
by
Kim Hải
- Recognize the significance of cultural festivals in community life.
- Understand the values of gratitude and communal harmony.
- Appreciate the diversity of global traditions and their meanings.
Discussion Questions
Before Reading:
- What festivals do you celebrate with your family?
- How do these festivals bring your community together?
During Reading:
- What preparations does Nhây’s family make for the festival?
- How does Nhây contribute to the celebrations?
After Reading:
- Why is the Moon significant in the Ok Om Bok Festival?
- How do festivals help in strengthening community bonds?
Activities:
- Festival Collage: Create a collage depicting various elements of the Ok Om Bok Festival, such as lanterns, offerings, and traditional attire.
- Gratitude Tree: Students write down things they are thankful for on leaves and attach them to a classroom "Gratitude Tree.
- Cultural Exchange: Invite students to share and present about a festival they celebrate, drawing parallels with the Ok Om Bok Festival.
- Science Extension Activity: How Do Lanterns Float? (if part of the curriculum)
- Objective: To help children understand the science behind floating paper lanterns by safely observing how warm air rises.
Materials:
- 1 hair dryer with warm and cool settings
- 1–2 lightweight plastic or paper balloons or ping-pong balls
- Optional: colored markers and cut-outs to decorate as ‘festival lanterns’
Instructions:
- Decorate the balloon or ping-pong ball like a sky lantern.
- Place the hair dryer on the cool setting and point it straight up. Hold the balloon above the airflow to watch it float.
- Switch to warm setting and observe how it floats differently or rises higher.
Discussion Prompts:
- Why does warm air rise?
- How is this related to real lanterns in the Ok Om Bok Festival?
- Can we think of other things that rise because of heat?
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
SDG Explanation:
- SDG 4 – Quality Education: The story introduces young readers to the cultural practices of the Khmer people, fostering appreciation and understanding of global traditions.
- SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: By highlighting community participation in cultural festivals, the story emphasizes the importance of preserving intangible cultural heritage.
- SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The narrative showcases the role of communal rituals in promoting social cohesion and shared values.
Ismat’s Eid – A funny and warm family story about festival gifts and surprises.
The Best Doll Festival, Ever!– A story celebrating the importance of traditions and the joy of festivals.
- Enhanced understanding of cultural diversity and traditions.
- Development of empathy and appreciation for global communities.
- Encouragement of self-reflection on personal values and gratitude.
Zamasama is a nonprofit platform that brings together stories from around the world to help children discover that beneath our differences—of culture, language, or belief—we share the same hopes, joys, and dreams.
Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens, and the responsibility of building a more peaceful, tolerant, and empathetic world lies with them.
That’s why it’s vital to instill these values early—through stories that help them rise above the biases they inherit, and see diversity as a strength that unites us all.