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Artefact: Cranbourne Gardens, The Garden of Mystique

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-03 12:41:34 UTC

Cranbourne Gardens, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, is renowned for several incredible features like collection of native Australian plants, award winning design, educational opportunities for children and adults. It offers an incredible learning experience for children who love to immerse and explore the natural environment.

Creative Response: Bobo, the bird, who lost in the Garden of Mystique

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-03 13:46:31 UTC

For my on-country visit, I have chosen to go to Cranbourne Gardens which is very close to my house. I have been to this place before and still love to go because of its' natural beauty. It makes me feel calm and relaxed. When I entered this beautiful place, I felt like I am part of this nature. I was just walking and wandering around the place using all my senses to feel and explore the natural world of wonder. I was mesmerized with the sounds, music, movement and drama created by nature. The sounds of the stream flowing, various bird songs, rustling leaves and trees swaying gently, insects hum, wind through trees, different colours of nature made me feel that I am in a mystical garden. I went back to my childhood where I got the freedom to explore nature by myself and with my cousins. We used to run around the bushes, playing hide and seek, engaged in various dramatic play where we used natural resources and loose parts. We learnt a lot through playing outdoors and just being in the nature. We have got time and place given by our parents to play freely. Nature and Environment is the third teacher in Reggio Emilia approach. (Wilson, 2018)

I remember watching the video "Dadirri" and listening deeply to the sounds of the nature in the class. I can relate this scenario into my own country visit that I deeply connected with. (MiriamRoseFoundation, 2017). I found my inner peace in this silent awareness.

References

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-03 23:09:11 UTC

Hamm, C. (2015). Walking With Place: Storying Reconciliation Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education. Journal of Childhood Studies, 40(2), 56. https://doi.org/10.18357/jcs.v40i2.15179

Hanna, W. (2013). A Reggio-Inspired Music Atelier: Opening the Door Between Visual Arts and Music. Early Childhood Education Journal, 42(4), 287–294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-013-0610-9

MiriamRoseFoundation. (2017). DADIRRI (Official Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Video) :: 3 minute promo. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tow2tR_ezL8

Movement, Sound, Play | Artifact Dance Project | TEDxTucson. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrgpeuPbp-I

Oliveros, P. (2015). The Difference between Hearing and Listening | Pauline Oliveros | TEDxIndianapolis [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QHfOuRrJB8

Wilson, R. A. (2018). Nature and young children : encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments. Routledge.

Analytical Response: The soothing music of nature- Sounds of Water Flow in the mystical garden

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-03 23:11:58 UTC

As I was relaxed with this soothing sounds of water flowing continuously, my mind went back to my childhood. When I was young, I used to go to the river with my cousins and sat over there for hours wandering our minds and keeping our feet in the water and making sounds. That was the best relaxation for us during school holidays which healed our mind and body.

As I continued to wander around I could listen the sounds of five water fountains flowing to a musical rhythm. At the same time, I could listen birds chirping, gentle breeze through trees, insects humming time to time. I felt like I am in an Orchestra listening to different melodies and symphonies of the sounds and music of nature. I felt that they try to convey their story through sounds and I have connected to the nature through deep listening.

This reminded me of the unit resource, by PAULINE OLIVEROS: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEARING AND LISTENING. "Listening is a lifetime practice and a mysterious process that is not the same for Everyone" (Oliveros, 2015). "Ears hear, brain listens and body senses vibrations". Now I understand the importance of listening deeply using all senses.

Future Practice as an ECE Teacher

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-03 23:24:09 UTC

I will encourage children to engage in outdoors using all their senses so that they can learn by exploring natural resources. This will extend their current knowledge, curiosity, imagination, creativity, problem solving skills, physical, emotional and intellectual development which lead to holistic development of children.

Future Practice as an ECE Teacher- Music and Sounds

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 02:05:59 UTC

I will continue to listen to children's voices using all my senses and encourage children to connect and listen deeply to the sounds of nature. As part of my curriculum, I will incorporate Play-based music learning rather than formal music learning which enhance children's physical, emotional, social, cognitive, vocabulary development and problem solving skills. (Hanna, 2013). Nature plays a crucial role in children's learning and development. We can include many natural resources in our teaching practice for children to connect and explore the sounds of nature.

Analytical Response: The colossal tree stood proud as it swayed gracefully in the breeze- Movement in Nature

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 02:30:23 UTC

I was amazed by the sight of the massive tree swaying in every direction, braving the forceful winds. The tree stood up high and fearless of strong winds. I felt that all the trees were dancing into the rhythm of the wind.

Analytical response: In the soft embrace of the gentle breeze, the delicate pink flowers swayed with an elegant rhythm, painting the air with their graceful dance

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 02:43:26 UTC

I found myself absorbed by the enchanting sight of the lovely pink flowers nestled within the bush. They seemed to reflect me to a magical territory, where charming pink fairies dwelled amidst their floral kingdom. These fairies danced with such grace and ease, their movements synchronized with the tender caress of the wind. Their sweet fragrance delicately perfumed the air, captivating all my senses. As the small leaves and flowers swayed in harmony with the breeze, I couldn't help but imagine the boundless beauty, kindness, and warmth embodied by these pink fairies. Then I saw Bees leaping from flower to flower, like tiny acrobats in a colorful garden circus. I was captivated by the movement and dance in nature surrounding me. Dance and music are the perfect marriage. (Movement, Sound, Play | Artifact Dance Project | TEDxTucson, n.d.)

Future Practice as an ECE Teacher- Movement

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 04:34:57 UTC

Children require chances to experience nature fully with their bodies. Providing various stimuli encourages them to explore and develop their creativity through play and movement. I advocate for outdoor activities that allow children to interact with their environment and plan to include music and props in both indoor and outdoor settings, fostering opportunities for them to dance and move freely. Moreover, I will continue to bring natural elements inside by setting up different nature themed environment in the classroom, incorporate nature books in the reading corner with sounds of nature. (Wilson, 2018)

Analytical response: Bug Family: Flourishing within flower home-Drama in Nature

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 05:29:15 UTC

As my mind wandered through nature's splendor, I observed bugs bustling about on the flower petals. My mind went back to my childhood. I would spend countless hours mesmerized by the intricate activities of tiny bugs, observing their movements and drama within the flowers and leaves. They appeared as though they had bravely faced a storm of rain and wind, their resilience evident in their continued presence amidst the aftermath. Wilson says in his book 'Nature and young children', that play in natural settings may offer more complexity and developmental benefits for young children, making it worth considering. There are many social benefits such as learning to share, cooperate, take turns, negotiate, seeing things in different perspectives. (Wilson, 2018) Moreover, dramatic play helps children to regulate their emotions while relieving stress and anxiety.

Quacking tale: A serene Encounter with two ducks on the river- Drama in Nature

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 06:00:56 UTC

I can see lots of drama everywhere in this mystical garden. I will continuously advocate for pretend and imaginative play, drawing from my own experiences where I've witnessed the rich drama unfolding within nature.

Storytelling is a rich concept in Aboriginal culture too where people connected to the place. In many Aboriginal cultures, storytelling holds profound significance as a means of preserving history, passing down knowledge, and reinforcing the deep connection between people and the land. Through stories, passed down from generation to generation, individuals not only learn about their ancestors and traditions but also develop a profound understanding of the natural world and their place within it. (Hamm, 2015)

Captured moments from this mystical garden.

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 06:24:15 UTC

Various trees are in their own movement and drama into the sounds of Nature

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 06:40:55 UTC

This picture shows that music, movement and drama all interconnected in this place. (Entanglement with place)

Various flowers and plants in the mystical garden

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 06:49:36 UTC

When I first noticed these plants, I thought it looks like corn and my son was telling that these are the food for the birds to eat in the garden.

Old and Young generation- connected to Drama

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 06:51:48 UTC

Various colours of Nature attract us to connect with this beautiful natural place.

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 06:54:17 UTC

Future Practice as an ECE Teacher- Drama

harshikarunaratne — 2024-04-04 07:23:01 UTC

Integrating drama as a temporal art and language tool in nature-based early childhood education is powerful, as it allows children to connect with the natural world while engaging in imaginative play and language development. As an ECE teacher, I will incorporate these methods to include drama in nature based ECE settings.

outdoor role play
nature-themed story telling
outdoor drama games
nature-inspired puppets