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In this activity, I had the children create their own nature-inspired sounds. They used everyday objects like leaves, stones, and water to explore the concept of sound as a language, which is building on the idea from Victor Wooten's speech. By listening to the sounds of nature and experimenting with creating their own, the children can develop an appreciation for the auditory world around them.

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This next activity was designed to encourage children to move like the elements of nature. Drawing inspiration from the play of sunlight on water, they explored fluid, rhythmic movements. The goal was to connect their physicality with the environment and express themselves through dance, aligning with the Mutton Bird dance concept. The above child is expressing through dance, how she imagines a tree would move on a windy day.

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Combining sound and movement, this drama activity was aimed at transporting children to an imaginary underwater world, similar to my experience by Sunshine Lake. They were to use their bodies to mimic the movements of underwater creatures, while also creating sound effects with their voices and objects. I could only get the kids to tell a a story of their underwater world, they didn't want to make sound affects. Some of the kids choose to draw their worlds instead of acting it out, it just goes to show that we all express ourselves differently . This immersive storytelling exercise draws from the drama-as-storytelling concept.

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These sessions are informed by my personal experience by Sunshine Lake, where I embraced the language of nature through sound, movement, and drama. They align with theoretical perspectives from the unit material and three key references: Victor Wooten's Speech, Mutton Bird Dance, Drama as Storytelling.

These activities promote creativity, self-expression, and a deeper connection to nature, in line with the unit's emphasis on experiential learning and the value of artistic languages in early childhood education.

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What Went as Expected

The kids really enjoyed the activities with music and dancing, just like I thought they would. Even though they were a bit older (6, 8, and 10 years old), they surprised me with how creative they were in making up dances and sounds. They seemed to understand how sounds and movements can express feelings and ideas.

What Did Not Go as Expected

But the drama activity didn't happen the way I had planned. I think it might be because they were older, so they decided to write stories and draw pictures instead of acting things out. It wasn't what I had in mind, but it was interesting to see how they adapted to what they liked. It reminded me that kids should be free to choose how they want to express themselves through art.

What I Might Do Differently Next Time

Next time, for the drama activity, I'll take their interests into account. I might suggest different roles, like pretending to be mermaids or other underwater creatures, and make it more like a play. This way, they can still use their imagination and act out their stories in a way that suits them.

Using This Growth in Future Practice

This experience has taught me a lot about how kids of different ages enjoy music, movement, and drama. I've learned that it's important to be flexible and adapt activities to what kids like and how old they are. In the future, I'll keep making activities that let kids be creative and express themselves. I'll also use these activities to help kids feel more connected to nature and their feelings.

Overall Reflection

After going through this unit and these tasks, I now see music, movement, and drama as really important for kids' learning and growth. They're not just extra things to do; they're essential for helping kids express themselves and understand the world. This has changed how I see my future teaching. I'll focus more on what kids like and how they want to learn, and I'll use these creative activities to help them develop their imagination and connection to nature.

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Korff, J. (2019). Deep listening (dadirri). [online] Creative Spirits. Available at: https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/education/deep-listening-dadirri.

Bangarra Dance Theatre. (2015). Mutton Bird. Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/o-PV98Oshkc?si=3xUn1MvjipooetQe

Wooten, V. (2013). Music as a Language. Www.youtube.com; TEDxGabriolaIsland. https://youtu.be/2zvjW9arAZ0?si=icmcgwiuqzSxKyZr