Indonesia Unit

Funny story, a few weeks ago I was having lunch with my Mom and she talked about a news report where someone had gone to Indonesia and come back with lots of clothes. She doubted they had really been there because her memory of Indonesia (from 1979 or 1980) was of all the fabrics being batiks. It’s interesting how one thing can cement in your memory so solidly to associate a country forevermore with it. I think my association of it is a picture of my Dad and Grandpa in front of a large statue with their hands in the “pray” position. But, for all my knowledge of the unlabeled photo, it could be another Asian country. But as to our geography lessons, our Indonesia Unit was a fun chance for me to learn a little more about this Asian country (and add it into our Asia Unit)

(there are affiliate links in here)

Indonesia Unit Resources

My library has pretty much nothing on Indonesia.

So here we go with my AMAZING Google skills.

• Indonesia Facts
• Over 20 Indonesia Facts
• 28 Indonesia Facts

It’s always interesting to rewatch these as I type up the posts. I’ve subscribed to the channel, so that means anything after “S” by the time the post is written I’ve watched it three times. Once when it came up in my subscriptions, once when the kids and I learn about the country together, and finally as I write the post.

It’s funny to me how he says no one watches these videos, but the videos still have over 30,000 views. I guess if you have 3 million subscribers 30,000 views is not that much.

Indonesia recipe: Indonesian Fried Rice

I found a list of Indonesian recipes and the very first recipe was Indonesian Fried Rice and I knew that was just what I needed. Having watched the Geography Now video I know the particulars of what goes into the dish are not particular, but this is the recipe I used.

Nasi Goreng ingredients

• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken (or protein source of your preference, you could also add in scrambled eggs in addition)
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 shallots minced
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 1 cup diced carrot (or matchstick carrots)
• 1 cup red bell pepper diced
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• (any other veggies you wish to add)
• 5 cups cooked rice (cold make it easier)
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or more) (yes, I buy soy sauce in gallon-sized containers because we use it that much)
• 1 1/2 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions (I am very amused with this discovery of fresh grocery items on Amazon)

Making Nasi Goreng

I like how this is a very adaptable recipe. It’s pretty much throwing in what you have on hand and then adding soy sauce and honey. But for the official directions.

1. In skillet heat oil. Add the shallots, garlic, mushrooms, bell pepper, and carrots. Cook for about 5 minutes.
2. Push veggies to side and add more oil to heat. Add the rice, then fry for 3-4 minutes. Mix the veggies into the rice.
3. Drizzle soy sauce and honey onto the rice and mix well. Sprinkle salt and pepper and mix it all together.
4. Add the protein and mix it into fried rice. Let cook for a couple more minutes. Serve while hot.

Nasi Goreng

Print

This one dish fried rice recipe is a great way to try a different culture's recipe.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 2 shallots minced
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 1 cup diced carrot (or matchstick carrots)
• 1 cup red bell pepper diced
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 5 cups cooked rice (cold make it easier)
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or more)
• 1 1/2 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions

Instructions

1. In skillet heat oil. Add the shallots, garlic, mushrooms, bell pepper, and carrots. Cook for about 5 minutes.
2. Push veggies to side and add more oil to heat. Add the rice, then fry for 3-4 minutes. Mix the veggies into the rice.
3. Drizzle soy sauce and honey onto the rice and mix well. Sprinkle salt and pepper and mix it all together. Add the protein and mix into fried rice. Let cook for a couple more minutes. Serve while hot.

Indonesia Unit: notebooking pages

We filled out the Asia notebooking pages to get all of the interesting things going on.

Here are some of my favorite facts:

• The “Hawaii of the Muslim world”
• There is no agreement of how many islands the country has
• They have a monkey temple!
• There’s an underground mosque (that would be amazing to see)
• A chicken-shaped church
• They have a candle dance (which I want to see now)

More Learning Fun

• Bridge to Terabithia book club
• How to conduct an interview
• Princess Diaries book club
• World War 1 writing prompts
• The worst astronomy globe ever

• “indonesia bali legong dancers” by FriskoDude is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
• “Trekking Mount Rinjani at Lombok Island, Indonesia 2014” by skyseeker is licensed under CC BY 2.0.