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Art and nature create people wonderfully. As a result, nature is played a significant role in early childhood settings. Mother nature can provide any natural material. Likewise, art can create without modifying raw natural materials. (Allison, 2021). Rocks, leaves, flowers, water, wooden sticks, sands, sea shells, mud, etc., can use as natural materials in day to life. Natural materials are so close to children's day to life because children can find natural materials everywhere, even on the road, in houses, backyards, parks, beaches, etc. Natural materials are essential for children to connect with nature. (Petit Journey, 2020). This padlet will discuss the importance of natural materials play based on Wooden sticks, flowers, leaves, water, rocks, and gum nut

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I heard different musical sounds when the wooden sticks were dripping. It feels very calm and focused. Then I used loose parts such as a plastic can and a plate. After that, I refilled the wooden sticks into the container, and the box started to shake; when the sticks began to move, the sound of the wooden sticks changed to a different musical rhythm, which I did not expect. Ultimately, I created various kinds of musical rhythms using my thoughts and feelings.

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Music plays a significant role in early childhood settings. Using the wooden stick, we can make a different kind of music. However, through this activity, I felt different textures and musical rhythms and counted the wooden sticks whilst making the rhythms. Wooden sticks can be found everywhere. Wooden sticks help, increase a child's sensory motor skills, and Children can feel the different textures while doing the activity.

Furthermore, children can explore sizes, colours, numbers, and shapes throughout the activity. Victoria Boler, 2022 states that music can be promoted through utilitarian philosophy when used to achieve an outcome outside the realm of music. In this philosophy, educators do not say that music studies will improve students' rhythmic or melodic skills, but instead, they focus on improving science and math scores. (Victoria Boler, 2022)

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Natural materials are accessible everywhere, and children love to play with Wooden sticks. So I collected different sizes of wooden sticks, provided the other loose parts needed, and provided the space for the children to experience the natural materials.

Children can tap the wooden sticks and play various rhythms throughout the activity. Children can make their own rhythms and sound. Apart from that, children can feel the textures and identify the different sizes provided by the different sizes of wooden sticks. Moreover, children can experience and feel the outer bark of the tree's wooden sticks.

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Around nature, we can collect lots of natural materials. While walking in the park, I found flowers in different shapes and sizes. I feel a bit extra soft and rough touch when collecting the flowers. I used flowers to make art. I tried to move the flowers to create art. Finally, it has become a colourful pattern.

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Children love to touch the flowers and explore them. Flowers are an excellent sensory and fine motor skill activity for children. Children have a significant interest in playing with flowers. Children can learn how to organize by size, colours, shapes, and quantity using the different shades of flowers. Moreover, children can use flowers to understand mother nature's natural beauty and creativity. (The Empowered Educator, 2021)

While I was doing the activity, I realized different sizes of flowers, colours, and shapes. Children playing together can improve their sensory development and build relationships with other living and non-living things. In this philosophy, educators do not say that flowers patterns will improve children's creativity; instead, they focus on introducing the part of a flower. (The Empowered Educator, 2021)

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I picked different colours of flowers, plates, and paper. I will prepare the outdoor area to feel the beauty of nature. Children love to play with beautiful flowers. The texture of the flower will increase the child's curiosity. Children can organise flowers by colour order, size, or shape. Children can count the flowers, can create patterns, and the stamens can be seen by removing the flower petals. Educators can be engaged with children and introduce them to parts of flowers. Children can make their own creative arts by exploring natural materials.

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As I wanted to capture the beauty of nature using visual arts language, I used dry leaves and paint colours (blue, yellow, red, and white). First, I touched and feel the leaves, then used paint to create the pattern of the varieties of leaves. I wanted to create the beauty of nature using visual arts language. Therefore, I started to do the paint on the leaves, followed by the pattern of varieties of leaves. After the painting it was a very creative art work which I did not expect.

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Leaves are sensorial material and it has different textures, shapes, colours, and sizes. Children love to play with leaves. Leaves help to increase child sensory development, fine motor skills and independent thinking. Throughout the activity, I am very independent and created my own art without thinking final output. The benefits of using natural resources in children's play 2022 state that, children, with all their senses, explore the world, experiencing the colours and patterns of their evolving creations, as well as the textures of the objects they are making (such as leaves). They feel the textures of leaves, and see their creations developing through their hands. In this philosophy, educators do not say that leaving paint will improve children's creativity; instead, they focus on introducing the aboriginal cultural perspectives. (The benefits of using natural resources

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I used dry leaves, paints, and white paper for the children to explore the natural materials. Children can explore the activities and create a pattern, do the counting, explore the shapes and feel the textures. Moreover, I set up group time and explained aboriginal arts, culture and perspectives to the children, which leads to social well-being. Furthermore, through this activity, diverse cultures, heritages, backgrounds, and traditions offer them opportunities to understand one another. (The benefits of using natural resources in children's play 2022) After the group time children have their own thinking about the aboriginal arts and they can create their own arts using the leaves.

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Water is one of most important part of the nature. I used water, oil, and paint. So, I put a water in the glass and started to mix the water and oil. But it did not work. So, then added some dry cone mixed. After that I want to add some colours. therefore, I dropped some paint drops into the water and oil mixture liquid. Then, those paint drops spread out through the water and looked like Colourful whirlpools, Which I did not expect.

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The benefits of water play for childhood development, 2022 states that water and the environment play an essential role in Early childhood settings, Children develop their sense of place in the world and their understanding of their abilities to influence it when they engage with their environment and use water in their play. In addition to developing a child's physical abilities, early literacy, scientific skills and numeracy skills, water play is both fun and educational. As a result of playing with water, children learn to float, pour, splash, measure, weight, different liquid textures and scoop, developing their social, communication, motor, and sensory skills. (The benefits of water play for childhood development, 2022)

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I love to create an activity with water because children love to play with water. Water play is significant for a child’s development. I use a bucket of water, a cup of oil, liquid paint, two glass, and a spoon. Children are confident involved learners. They can create their own art activities using the provided natural materials. Children can mix paint and water, dip the spoon, pour the water into the glasses, splash the water, measure the water, feel the different textures etc. Overall, children explore the water activity as per their creativity.

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I found lots of various rocks in my backyard. I want to do art using a rock. I used rocks, a table, a tray, and different paint liquid colours. Suddenly I feel to place these rocks one on the other, and it makes a beautiful rock balancing unexpected art. After that, I wanted to add some colours on top of the rocks. Therefore, I poured the paint liquid on the rock balancing art. It makes beautiful rock-balancing art.

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In an early childhood setting, natural materials play an important role. Children love to play in an outdoor environment. Children can improve their fine motor skills and broaden their world knowledge through cultural and traditional art. Rock art helps children to explore indigenous cultural perspectives. (Team, 2022).

Moreover, Children can explore the rocks' textures, sizes, shapes, measuring, weights, and colours. The rocks play teaches children numeracy, literacy, science, and cultural perspectives. In this philosophy, educators do not say that rock balancing art will improve children's creativity; instead, they focus on introducing the aboriginal cultural perspectives. (Team, 2022).

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I created an outdoor play area for the children to explore the rocks. I arrange rocks, liquid paint, a tray, and a table. Children showed an interest in outdoor play. Children can use rocks to paint, feels texture, make patterns, count, balance, and explore shapes and colours. I created a group time for explained the indigenous rock arts. It helps children to make rock art. Overall, children will explore their rock art as per their respect to the land, emotions and creativity

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I found gum nuts at my nearest walking park. I pick up some Gum nuts, one plate and a piece of paper. I started to move the gum nuts through the paper. I feel different textures and different sizes. I slowly moved the gum nuts as per my feelings. Its moves into different angles. But finally, I created a beautiful gum nut art.

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Children's interactions with their natural environments enable them to learn sensory stimuli through their senses of sight, hearing, touch, and smell. Natural environments (no date)

Gum nuts can use to explore math concepts, literacy, and simple science, such as sorting, counting, shaping, size, weighting, and creating different patterns in different ways. Children can do fun activities through that. Natural environments (no date). Moreover, gum nut activity increases a child's sensory, fine motor, and concentration skills

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I love to arrange a gum nut activity. I use cleaned gum nuts, a cup and paper. Children love to play with gum nuts. Because It has different textures, shapes, sizes and weights, children can do patterns, sorting, and imaginative playing such as cooking. Moreover, Educators can introduce symbolic literacy during the gum nut activity.

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Art can be anything. Art is freedom and has no boundaries. Art allows us to create anything in free space, whether adult or child. Musical, dramatic and visual arts activities contribute to children's understanding of their creativity. Natural Materials will enhance a person's creativity. Educators can use Natural materials and create an activity in childhood education to improve child's skills. The physical environment contributes to children's well-being, creativity and independence. Many contemporary theories of early childhood education recognize and value the environment as the "third teacher" in supporting children's learning. Therefore, material components from the physical environment are essential to provide various experiences that promote children's learning and development. (The benefits of using natural resources in children's play 2022)

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Allison (2021) What are natural materials? Relatable Science. Available at: https://relatablesci.com/what-are-natural-materials/ (Accessed: March 12, 2023).

Natural environments (no date) Department of Education. Available at: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/regulation/Pages/naturalenvironments.aspx (Accessed: March 17, 2023).

Petit Journey (2020) 20 natural materials for children's play, Petit Journey. Available at: https://www.petitjourney.com.au/natural-materials/#:~:text=Natural%20materials%20should%20be%20an%20integral%20element%20of,accessible%20and%20encourage%20children%20to%20learn%20about%20nature. (Accessed: March 13, 2023).

Team, A.C.N. (2022) Aboriginal creation stories, Aussie Childcare Network. Available at: https://aussiechildcarenetwork.com.au/articles/childcare-articles/creation-stories#:~:text=Children%20can%20have%20great%20fun%20exploring%20indigenous%20practices,use%20the%20Aboriginal%20Australia%20map%20to%20illustrate%20this. (Accessed: March 15, 2023).

The benefits of using natural resources in children's play (2022) Busy Bees. Available at: https://www.busybees.edu.au/the-benefits-of-using-natural-resources-in-childrens-play/ (Accessed: March 14, 2023).

The Empowered Educator (2021) Nature play activities and environments for children, The Empowered Educator. Available at: https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/2019/05/simple-ideas-for-nature-play.html/ (Accessed: March 13, 2023).

Victoria Boler (2022) 3 philosophies of Music Education, Victoria Boler. Victoria Boler. Available at: https://victoriaboler.com/blog/three-philosophies-of-music-education (Accessed: March 4, 2023).