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On Country Visit, My Artefacts: Bus, train, trees, wind

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On Country Visit, My Artefacts: Bus, train, trees, wind

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Reflection:

As I stood there, I listened carefully to the sounds around me. There were a lot of different sounds, starting with the bird chirping, warning sounds, meaning the train will be coming soon, the train passing by followed by strong honking, and other vehicles such as buses and cars. It reminded me of how fast movement around me, people going to work, going back home, or people traveling. I felt that everyone had a destination to reach. I could smell dusty from the road and smokey from vehicles, and the trees had their unique scent, and it was sunny that time and I felt warm all through my body.

Then there was the wind, it moved through the street, trees, and it felt soft but sometimes strong. I also noticed some people walking around me. Some were walking quickly, while others moved slowly. Seeing them reminded me that every person had their journey and purpose for being in that place at that moment.

Being in this place made me feel connected as it was exciting to see people explore their world and so many things happen at one time. Also, it made me feel overwhelmed as it was noisy and how fast every single person moved. It made me think about how sound and movement shape my emotions and feelings. Do I need a more silent environment to make me feel calm, or does the noise around me make me more active and energized?

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Based on my video, I made a creative response through sound, movement, and dramatic play.

Sound: I sang my ‘Bus Driver’ song, I introduced myself as a driver and announced that we were ready to start our journey. When I sang, I acted driving a bus, seeing the view, interacting with my passengers, which aligned with my actions. I ended my song with goodbye and see you in another journey, showing that we arrived at our destination.

Movement : I pretended to be a bus driver, moving my hand like a driver with my imaginary steering wheel. I strolled around, changed my direction, and waited for some passengers before continuing my journey.

Drama : I acted out as a bus driver, I welcomed the passenger and started to drive. On the way to the destination, I looked around, pretending to admire the view and pointed at the things I “saw”. When we arrived, I turned to my passengers and with my gesture, I encouraged them to get off the bus.

My creative response helped me engage with my surroundings in different ways. I interacted with the environment and I realized how everyday environments can become imaginative play and sensory exploration, which is important for children to learn.

Link Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7CFgwl2pHfQ

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ECE2008 - Assessment 2 by Benita Setiono (S8151290)

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Analytical Response and Connection with the Resources

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Analytical Response and Connection with the Resources

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Reflecting on my experiences, combining sound, movement, and dramatic play, created a meaningful learning as I explore my imagination to express my creativity and critical thinking skill. Wilson (2018) highlights that creative play is important for children to learn about the world around them and learn about themselves. For early childhood, they learn through discovery and that cannot be taught directly. Looking back with my response, this aligns with my play, as I discovered bus drivers through movement, observation, and improvisation. I expressed myself creatively to build my own understanding, and I was able to engage with the world around me, became more focused and listened carefully. Similarly with children, instead of being told, they will discover through play and engage themselves in creative ways. This is also linked with a video from Bangarra theatre about ‘Mutton Bird’. When the dancer makes a representation about birds through movement, dance, and sound; that is how I capture my play and show similar concepts when I record it.

Moreover, Wilson (2018) highlights that imaginative play helps children to gain more skills such as problem solving, negotiation, and sensory awareness. As I did with my response, I used my sense and connected it with my scenario. I relied on my senses, such as listening to the sounds around me, observing my environment, and using my imagination. When children engage in pretend play, they become more aware about what they experience and make a connection into their thoughts.

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Connecting My Play To My Future Practice

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Connecting My Play To My Future Practice

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This experience highlights the importance of freedom. As a future teacher in early childhood, providing children with freedom and opportunity for creativity is one of my practices. I believe children will engage and explore in different ways, and they can create meaningful experiences. Integrating sound, movement, and dramatic play are my teaching strategies to support children’s development; social, cognitive, language, emotional, and physical. Through this play, children can communicate their ideas, deepen their understanding of the world. Providing children with different materials to do dramatic play and explore sensory experiences help them to strengthen their skills. Gandini (2012) explains that learning environments should offer inviting and engaging, where children can explore and express themselves. This place also helps educators better understand how children learn, create their own ways of thinking and imagination freely. I believe an open-ended environment will encourage children to explore, also combining with natural and everyday materials help children connect with their place and environment.

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Bangarradance theatre. (2015, 20 May). Bangarra Education Resources Mutton Bird. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-PV98Oshkc

Gandini, L. (2012). The atelier: A conversation with Vea Vecchi. C. Edwards, L. Gandini, & G. Forman (Eds.), The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia experience in transformation (3rd ed., pp. 303–316). ABC-CLIO, LLC. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/vu/reader.action?docID=820317&ppg=330

Wilson, R. A. (2018). Nature and young children: Encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/vu.edu.au?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taylorfrancis.com%2Fbooks%2Fmono%2F10.4324%2F9781315148533%2Fnature-young-children-ruth-wilson