i could hear the sounds of sea gulls, children squealing with fun, the swaying of the trees. It was like watching a movie. I was mesmerized with the way the golden sand was stretching out to meet the sparkling blue sea.

This helped the children to create a love for nature and develop their imagination and creativity through music.

they loved it.

I walked on the beach I could smell the salty sea air, fresh ocean breeze mixed with the scent of eucalyptus trees from the bushland surrounding the coast, seaweed.

Standing on the shore, I could hear the sound of crashing waves, the rhythmic movement like an orchestra of natural environment, the singing of seagulls as they glide adding to the orchestra music being played by nature. The laughter and squeal of little children as they ran across the shoreline, their playful movement added a live music to the scene. It is a enchanting moment where movement, sound and drama come together in perfect union for creating a colorful image of life by the sea.

Childhood memories

This brought me back the memories of when we as a family went to the beach. We had so much fun. Collecting the shells, bathing in the cold water, building sand castles and then laughing when the waves came and took them away.

In connection to the readings

In "Watershed " (Arts House, n.d.) Cass Lynch explores themes of identity and the effect of environmental changes on communities. I could identify that the boydtown beach where I went & Watershed relates to environmental themes. Both the places gives a feeling (sense) of belonging. My experience at the beach, I could relate to that of the Birarang a trunk of a vast watershed its snaking body fed by branching creeks and streams lost under the road & pavers of North Melbourne. It makes me think about the importance of raising awareness for environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices for the protection of sea creatures, our coastal beaches. It also makes me think about the cultural histories and identities both the places hold, their connection to the First Nations people from different perspectives.

In Watershed it touches on the themes related to Indigenous culture, and the my country visit to Boydtown beach where I went camping, relates to indigenous people of the area such as Yuin people whose culture and history are deeply rooted in the land and sea.

As I was listening to the sounds of the waves, I was in awe of the beautiful nature that God has created. Just like the Indigenous communities have a strong connection to the land and sea and viewing them as being sacred and important for our spiritual well being.

As I stood on the beach watching the drama unfolding, my senses came alive and I felt the urge to run on the beach arms wide like a sea gull free of any worry, issue in life. According to the Movement in the Wild: Nature as Dance(The Earthbody Institute, n.d.) which explores the connection between movement, nature and experience, I was inspired how to develop the connection between the natural world and the movement in my childcare setting.

In my creative experience, I sang a song on waves on the beach to make the children experience the sound and drama happening in the sea. Similar to the way "Nature as Dance" explores the rhythmic movement found in nature, I encouraged the children to mimic the movements of fish, crab in the sea. The children were involved in the experience and were enthusiastic participants in the learning. They were singing along with me.

My experience at the Boydtown beach and being aware of the place and being there has influenced my pedagogical practice as a teacher.

By incorporating the following strategies I can create meaningful experiences for children to connect with nature, explore their learning through movement of their bodies, sensory play, creativity based upon my country visit.

• as a teacher I can encourage imaginative play by providing props, storytelling and open ended materials like shells, sand, rocks for children to create their own beach adventures.

• provide activities where children imagine themselves to be on a beach listening to the sound of waves.

• set up sensory tubs with sand, shells, dried sea weed for children to smell and feel the textures.

• fill a tub with water and allow children to make waves and listen to the sounds it makes.

• play music that imitates the sound of waves and encourage children to move their bodies in rhythm with the waves, swaying like trees or jumping like dolphins, dancing like a crab.

• children can create their own waves with blue construction paper, cloth, tissue paper .

• set up dramatic play area with props like beach towels, sunglasses, beach umbrella where children can engage in pretend play scenarios.

References:

Arts House. (n.d.). Watershed

https://www.artshouse.com.au/watershed-audio-experience/

The Earthbody Institute. (n.d.). Movement In the Wild: Nature as Dance Partner https://www.theearthbodyinstitute.com/2017/03/movement-in-the-wild-nature-as-dance-partner/