Lesson
Students are introduced to the Ramayana (Story of Rama) and recall events by sequencing related art objects on a Story Hill. Then students make connections between artistic and literary depictions of character by comparing Vishnu and Ravana.
Video
Asian Art Museum Storyteller Miriam Mills tells a story about a gecko from Bali.
Activity
Students express the Balinese concept of working together to create a community by applying the kecak musical pattern of interlocking parts to “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and design their own chant using words or sounds to represent their characters.
Activity
Shadow puppet performances were popular forms of entertainment in Thailand. Create your own shadow puppet and perform a scene from the the Ramayana.
Lesson
Objective: Students gain an appreciation and understanding of art and culture, and build language skills by reading; developing scripts; making choices about gesture, voice, and expression; and performing traditional stories alongside art objects in the Asian Art Museum’s collection galleries.
Duration: One class period over the course of 1 week
Video
Background Information
Only in the past sixty years has “Southeast Asia” been used to refer to the region comprising modern-day Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines. Learn more.
Background Information
Balinese stories are continually told and retold. Tales such as the Ramayana are mainly spread through storytelling, shadow plays, masked dance, chants, and other theatrical genres. Learn more.
Activity
Create Balinese shadow puppets with these downloadable templates.
