Development of a Local Curriculum Integrating Tai Dam Lifestyle and Culture to Enhance Life Skills and Local Pride for Primary Students of Wat Sra Si Mum School, Nakhon Pathom Province

Abstract

This academic article presents the conceptual framework and process of developing a local curriculum that integrates the way of life and cultural heritage of the Tai Dam ethnic group (Thai Song Dam) in Kamphaeng Saen District, Nakhon Pathom Province. The article aims to propose guidelines for constructing a locally responsive curriculum aligned with community context, while enhancing life skills and fostering a sense of local identity among primary school students at Wat Sra Si Mum School. As an educational administrator, the author employed participatory processes involving community members and local wisdom holders in designing learning experiences, utilizing place-based learning concepts as a theoretical framework. The developed curriculum comprises five core learning units: 1) history and settlement, 2) language and folk literature, 3) clothing and handicrafts, 4) traditions and rituals, and 5) traditional agricultural practices. Implementation results demonstrated that students developed high-level awareness of cultural heritage, acquired practical life skills through hands-on learning experiences, and exhibited positive attitudes toward their community. These findings substantiate that community cultural capital can serve as a foundation for quality and sustainable education. This article thus provides guidance for other educational institutions in effectively integrating cultural capital into learning management for sustainable educational development.