Paper was first made in Lei- Yang, China by Ts’ai Lun worked for Chinese emperor.

Was made by mixing mulberry bark, hemp and rags with water. Then mashed it into pulp, pressed out the liquid and hung the thin mat to dry in the sun.

Paper Reflection

During my experiment with paper, I observed there are different textures to paper. Newspaper texture feels smooth but tough when scrunching it and throwing it. Tissue paper texture is very flowy, smooth and soft.

Techniques I used during this experiment was tearing, ripping, scrunching, folding and twisting.

Activities that could be introduced for future practice would be paper mache and creating paper chains with different types of paper.

different sounds created with paper

Some are soft in touch and some are tough 

This clip made me uncomfortable due to John Wolseley throwing a unalive bird on paper for his art.

Babies have demonstrated to be keen observers, attentive, learning from security trusted connections. (Thomson & Carmichael, 2020)

I learnt due to the art being connected to Aboriginal artists with respect we should ask permission before proceeding any Aboriginal related art.

Ways to incorporate

-        Invite elders within aboriginal culture to teach children or yourself

-        Explore the history of Aboriginal art

-        Explore the symbols and the meaning of the symbols used in Aboriginal art

This links to

Outcome 2.2.2 - Exploring the diversity of culture, heritage, background and tradition and that diversity presents opportunities for choices and new understandings

Outcome 2.2.4 - Listen to others’ ideas and respect different ways of being and doing

I found this literature enjoyable to read as i learnt, children listen to life in all its shapes and colours, and they listen to others. They quickly perceive how the act of listening (observing, touching, smelling, tasting and searching) is essential for communication.

Children listen in order to communicate, learn the language and be open.

"Listening that does not produce answers but formulates questions".

"It requires openness to change"

(Rinaldi, 2005)

THE TEACHER'S COMPETENCY Pg 89

Teachers can sometimes be the director, designer, nurse, friend, audience that watch, using words of encouragement, sometimes judges with skepticism, listening and many more within the Teacher role. (Rinaldi, 2005)

While using charcoal to draw and experiment on paper, I realised depending on the pressure used on the paper it can show dark strokes or light strokes. Techniques I used would be stroke motions, smudging and smoothing lines. Charcoal can also be crush, grind, cut, burn and spread.

An activity that could be incorporated in future practices would be making charcoal paint and using different natural materials as paintbrushes.

Junk are considered not valued to be used and cannot be used the way it was advertised anymore but could be turned into recycled or reused materials.

During my exploration of junk and loose parts, I had trouble thinking of ideas and what could be made with the materials I have collected.

Techniques I used for this exploration was folding, cutting, taping, bending, twisting, rearrange and rolling.

Future practices that I would incorporate would be providing children access to recycled materials, allowing them to explore and bring their imagination into reality.

I noticed the boy in the video is being risky using sharp tools to create a bat or racket for himself to play ball with other children

Children use different reused materials to create toys or items, which will allow them to have fun.

They are able to learn about taking risk, be creative and allows them to feel like they have accomplished something.

I was shocked how much junk was lying around and was worried about the amount of hazards but with the right guidance children can be more knowledgeable about taking risk.

This links to

Outcome 1.2.4 - Children take considered risks in their decision-making and cope with the unexpected

Outcome 4.1.1 - Children express wonder and interest in their environments

Based on Loris Malaguzzi’s quote, when it comes to art and being creative there is definitely no right or wrongs. Many children in the classroom, have made artworks and creations based off of their imagination, to children it has meaning, allows them to feel happy and accomplished.

Restricting children with yes or no in art, won’t stimulate their brain and knowledge as they have the right to make their creations into reality. This also relates to future learning development, such as writing a story will need creativity and imagination, which shouldn’t have a restriction.

Demonstrating how you as their teacher would use these reused junk or loose parts in your artwork, which will give children ideas.

I found this experiment session very fun, enjoyable and it has stimulated my brain to think creatively.

Clay is slimy, messy, sticky, slippery with water, hard or tough using without water. It’s very open ended, able to be more creative using clay and it can be reusable. It allows us to think hard and carefully on what to make using clay (Stimulates us to have a creative mindset).

This would be a perfect example of incorporating clay to children learning for future practices in teaching.

Information I got out of the video was:

The name Yalmaralpana came from the mountain.

On the Yalmaralpana mountain, locates red iron oxide, which are made into paint and are used for ceremonial purposes. Women and children wear ochre for ceremonies. Dots represent women and lines represent men. Ochre is also used for painting on rocks and is a symbolic art form.

Clay Poem

Clay is open ended, you can be creative

It becomes soft when touched with water

It can be tough without water

Clay can be rolled, smoothed, pinch, pressed and carved.

Future teachings with light could be doing shadow puppets, using light boxes (tracing or counting activities with light boxes), shadow tracing and science experiments with light.

Currently at my centre, we are incorporating STEM learning into our practices, which I also strive to incorporate STEM in my future teachings. STEM is a learning approach for areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

I have been introducing children different experiments, which gave me the idea of lava lamp experiment through our class teachings of light.

This links to

Outcome 2.4.1 - Children use play to investigate, project and explore new ideas

Outcome 2.4.2 - Children participate with others to solve problems and contribute to group outcomes

Outcome 4.2.5 - Children manipulate objects and experiment with cause and effect, trial and error, and motion

How to Make a Lava Lamp For Kids Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5cQ5epEPJo

Being able to explore within my community and visit NGV for the first time, has made me appreciate art and understand the value of it.

Ozzie – Education Videos for Kids. (2020, September 20). How to Make a Lava Lamp for Kids. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5cQ5epEPJo

Pelo, A. (2016). The Language of Art: Inquiry-Based Studio Practices in Early Childhood Settings. Redleaf Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/vu/reader.action?docID=4674378&ppg=105

Pacini-Ketchabaw, V., Kind, S., & Kocher, L. L. M. (2024). Encounters with Materials in Early Childhood Education. Taylor & Francis Group. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/mono/10.4324/9781003322559-2/paper-veronica-pacini-ketchabaw-sylvia-kind-laurie-kocher?context=ubx&refId=afad3587-3809-4144-ab33-26732a63cdac

Rinaldi, C. (2005). In Dialogue with Reggio Emilia: Listening, Researching and Learning. Taylor & Francis Group. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/vu/reader.action?docID=199505&ppg=59

Thomson, B., & Carmichael, P. (2020). Educating Young Children. Early Childhood Teachers Association. https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/aeipt.229494