With high trees and green leaves, at the park the kookaburra sings loud and clear to let his friends know he is near, the wind in the trees swish and swirl. The kookaburra is on a hunt for food flying high and long through the trees finding the perfect food to eat. He digs in the dirt finding some seeds, he then flies away singing a happy song. He then splashes in the puddle and returns back to his tree where he lays suddel.

Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WCvPKhRya0

My artifact is Brearley reserve, Brearley reserve was created in 2014,just south of Bell Street in Pascoe vale south. This park is located in the Merri Beck region, which is the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people's traditional homeland. This area used to be a place for hunting and gathering. The name Woi Wurrung comes from the word "wurun" which refers to the Manna Gum.During my country visit, I immersed myself in observing the Kookaburra, captivated by its distinctive movements and the symphony of sounds it contributed to the natural world. Inspired by the rhythmic sounds that echoed through the trees, I embarked on a creative journey to recreate these sounds and create a soundscape that mirrored the bird's daily quest for food, each movement became musical note .From my observation and using all my sense i created a poetic narrative that intertwined with its movements. The soundscape I created evolved into a symphony of natural rhythms, each layer harmonizing with the Kookaburras presence. Through this creative endeavor, I not only celebrated the beauty of the Kookaburras' existence but also deepened my connection to the natural world. 

From my experience on this country visit, it has opened my eyes. I have realized that engaging with the land around us takes more than just observing and seeing. We need to think of land as a living person, talk to it, listen to it,  appreciate the movements, see what the land is trying to tell us through its drama and make a connection. “Country is a place that gives and receives life. Not just imagined or represented, it is lived in and lived with... People talk about a country in the same way they would talk about a person: they speak to the country, sing to the country, visit the country, worry about the country, feel for country, and long for country. Country is not a generalized or undifferentiated type of place... country is a living entity with a yesterday, today and tomorrow with a consciousness, and a will toward life.” (Rose,D.2004). But to come to this realization I utilized the skill of deep listening, when you are in nature and can listen deeply it opens up pathways to connect to the land in all these ways. “If you listen carefully your connection to the land is enhanced in every way” (M,Schafer, 2009). 

Overall, my future practice in early childhood education settings has been influenced dramatically. I will be incorporating country visits in nature so the children can fully immerse in the outdoors and form a connection to the country. Additionally, I believe that it is crucial for kids to create their own play in which they utilize sounds, motions, and real-world creatures to illustrate a narrative they have illustrated. This is because kids learn to use their imaginations most effectively in these kinds of settings. “There’s a reason why children prefer to play under the bushes rather than use traditional playground equipment. This reason has a lot to do with children’s need to make a playspace their own.” (R,Wilson,2015). This approach is linked to the Reggio Emilia approach that views children as “capable and competent learners who actively construct their understanding of the world through interactions with their environment.” (Edwards,C,2011). I can't wait to incorporate these things in my future teaching practice and give children the best potential to learn in a creative and meaningful way.

Wilson, R. A. (2018). Nature play. Nature and young children: encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments (3rd ed., pp. 5-17).

Edwards, C. P. (2011). The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia experience in transformation (3rd ed.)

MURRAY SCHAFER: Listen (2009)