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(1) Sound/Music Activity: Bird Sound Exploration

I Introduce bird sounds and audio recordings.

Take them for a nature walk in a yard to listen for birds.

Encourage children to mimic and create their own bird sounds.

Resources Needed:

Indoor and Outdoor space

I-pad and portable speaker

(2) Movement/Dance Activity: Blue Scarf Movement

Introduce water-inspired movement.

Use blue scarves to mimic water flow.

Encourage creative movement incorporating water themes.

Resources Needed:

Blue scarves

Open indoor space

(3) Drama Activity: Leaves Cooking Dramatic Play

Create an indoor and outdoor kitchen for leaf cooking.

Encourage imaginative play with leaves and pretend cooking utensils.

Resources Needed:

Assorted leaves

Pretend pots, pans, and utensils

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Title: Exploring Nature Through Bird Sounds

Summary: During the nature exploration activity in the yard, the children and I had an immersive experience with nature. As we walked, we were fortunate to hear the delightful sound of birds singing nearby. This sparked excitement among the children, and they eagerly joined me in mimicking the bird sounds and pretending to be birds themselves.

Connections with On-Country Experience: This activity integrates indigenous perspectives by fostering a deep connection with nature and encouraging children to appreciate the significance of birds in the environment. It reflects the cultural values of respecting and learning from the natural world, aligning with the principles learned from the on-country experience.

Rationale: Engaging children in nature exploration fosters a deeper connection with the natural world and encourages sensory awareness. Hearing the birds' sounds provided an opportunity for spontaneous learning and imaginative play. By mimicking the birds and embodying their movements, the children furthered their understanding of animal behavior and developed their creativity. Additionally, research suggests that engaging in activities like singing together can have positive effects on the brain(How Singing Together Changes the Brain: Tania de Jong AM at TEDxMelbourne, n.d.).

Analysis and Reflection:

This experience allowed the children to engage their senses, explore their creativity, and connect with nature in a meaningful way. By embracing the spontaneity of the moment and encouraging imaginative play, the activity facilitated joyful learning and memorable experiences for the children.

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Title: Blue Scarf Movement

Summary: During this activity, children were introduced to the concept of water flow through a video demonstration. Following the video, each child was provided with a blue scarf to mimic the movement of water in a dance. They explore various movements that mimic the flow and fluidity of water, encouraging creative expression and physical activity.

Connections with On-Country Experience: This activity aligns with the on-country visit's emphasis on sensory exploration and connection with the natural environment. By using blue scarves to represent water, children engage in imaginative play while connecting with nature through movement.

Rationale: The activity aims to engage children in kinesthetic learning by allowing them to physically embody the characteristics of water through movement. By incorporating the visual element of the water flow video, children were provided with a clear reference point to inspire their movements. Additionally, the use of blue scarves enhances the sensory experience and encourages creativity in expressing the fluidity of water through dance (Creative Dance for Early Childhood |, 2020).

Analysis and Reflection: The movement/dance activity promotes physical development, coordination, and creativity among children. It provides opportunities for sensory exploration and understanding of abstract concepts like fluidity and rhythm. Additionally, by incorporating elements of nature into movement activities, children develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and its influence on creative expression.

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Title: Leaves Cooking Dramatic Play

Summary: Children were engaged in imaginative play at the outdoor kitchen, pretending to cook a special leaf soup. They explore the kitchen area, gathering assorted leaves and using pretend pots, pans, and utensils to create their imaginary dish.

Connections with On-Country Experience: This activity aligns with the on-country visit's emphasis on interacting with natural materials and environments. It encourages children to explore and appreciate nature through imaginative play, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.

Rationale: The activity was designed to foster imaginative play and creativity among children while connecting them with nature. By incorporating natural materials such as leaves and bark, the activity encouraged children to explore the outdoor environment and use their senses to interact with the world around them. Dramatic play promotes social and emotional development by allowing children to express themselves, collaborate with peers, and develop problem-solving skills (Lark Wallin, 2019b).

Analysis and Reflection: The drama activity promotes social interaction, cooperation, and creativity among children as they collaborate in pretend cooking. It provides opportunities for sensory exploration and understanding of natural materials, enhancing children's cognitive and motor skills development. Additionally, this activity fosters cultural competence by incorporating indigenous perspectives through the use of natural materials in play.

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What went as expected:

Children liked listening to bird sounds and tried to make birds sound.

Using blue scarves for moving around was fun and let the children express themselves.

Pretend cooking with leaves got the children to play together and be imaginative.

What did not go as expected:

Some children found it hard to copy bird sounds, needing more help and encouragement.

A few children got tangled up in the scarves while moving, causing small interruptions.

Not all children were equally interested in the pretend cooking, so some needed more help joining in.

What might you do differently next time:

Use pictures or simpler instructions to help children to copy bird sounds better.

Provide clear guidelines for using the scarves to prevent accidents and ensure smoother movement activities.

Make the pretend cooking more interactive or tell a story to keep all children engaged.

How might you use this growth in your future practice of early childhood education:

Learning from challenges and changes, I can improve how I teach and meet children different needs better next time.

This learning will help me plan and do more music, movement, and drama activities, making learning more exciting and complete.

Overall reflection addressing how perspective changed:

By Doing these activities showed me how powerful music, moving, and pretending are for children, making learning fun, creative, and social.

This experience has shown me the importance of incorporating music, movement, and imaginative play into teaching to enhance children's learning, both intellectually and emotionally.

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How singing together changes the brain: Tania de Jong AM at TEDxMelbourne. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/I_HOBr8H9EM
Lark Wallin, M. (2019a, June). The Importance of Pretend Play in Natural Settings. Www.communityplaythings.com. https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/the-importance-of-pretend-play-in-natural-settings#:~:text=When%20children%20are%20given%20the%20time%20and%20space%20to%20play
Creative Dance for Early Childhood |. (2020, June 7). Dance Teaching Ideas. https://danceteachingideas.com/creative-dance-movement-for-toddlers/