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I have gained natural experience while visiting the forest glade gardens in Assessment 2.

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we can use Materials such as:

recordings, shakers, sticks, and open space.

Play bird calls, ask children what do you hear?.

children copy sounds with voices.

Add claps, stomps and taps to copy rhythms.

introduce simple instruments to extend the bird calls.

Create a bird concert, where everyone plays together.

learning rhythm, active listening, group activity.

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Materials: open space, scarves or ribbons as wings.

Show children photos and videos of birds flying and hopping.

Ask children how birds move fast or slow.

Invite children to copy each movement together.

Children learning gross motor skills, rhythm in movement, and cooperation.

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Children act out daily bird actions such as stretching, calling, flying, and eating.

assign roles like mother bird chicks, nest builders.

Children create a short scene of morning, feeding, and flying.

Children can also get excited about feeding animals, because it makes them feel connected and caring. When a child gives food to ducks, birds, or farm animals, they see how the animal responds with trust and joy. This simple act teaches children kindness, patience, and responsibility.

Feeding animals can also turn into play and learning. Children might copy the sounds the animals make, move like them, or act out stories about looking after them. For children, feeding animals is not just about giving food; it is about building a relationship with nature and discovering new ways to express themselves through music, movement, and drama.

Ask children questions such as How did you feel to be a bird? What story did you tell?

Children are learning about empathy, storytelling, imagination, and collaboration.

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Birds and even other animals are playful and familiar with children and full of rhythm and movement.

These activities encourage children to listen, copy, and create rhythms.

help children express ideas with body and voice.

support imagination and empathy through storytelling.

Linking to EYLF Outcomes 2,4,5

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The three activities – music, movement, and drama are all inspired by my earlier Creative Response to Place, where I observed birds. I chose birds because they are part of children’s everyday world and provide rich opportunities for expression. Birds sing, move, and live in ways that naturally connect to the arts. Their calls can be explored as music, their flights as dance, and their daily life as drama.

These activities are not just fun; they help children learn in deep ways. Through music, children become aware of rhythm, pitch, and sound, while also learning to listen closely and respond. Through movement and dance, children strengthen their bodies, explore balance and coordination, and express feelings without needing words. Through drama, children build imagination, empathy, and storytelling skills by taking on roles and creating shared stories.

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Eisner, E.W. (2002). The arts and the creation of the mind. Yale University Press.

Vecchi, V. (2010). Art and creativity in Reggio Emilia. Routledge.

Write, S. (2012). Children, meaning making and the arts (2nd ed.). Pearson.

DEEWR. (2009). Belonging, Being, and Becoming. The Early Years Learning Framework.