During my country visit i got inspired by music which was created by nature birds, insects, water, breeze and to extend this experience i decided to explore music and sound with natural resources. It is a beautiful way to engage children in sensory play, and to make deeper connection with nature. I sat up this activity with some natural resources sticks, dry leaves, stones, barks stuff like that along with some Recycled material like containers, cardboard box etc. Children got curious when they see all these items to explore and to create their own music. They confidently picked up item to engage in this experience and felt so excited and confident.

Rationale

 I got inspired to create music with natural elements To use natural resources for music encourages them to become more aware about environmental sustainability. It supports to develop their creative, social, cognitive connection while deep engaging with nature. Natural materials provide open-ended opportunities for musical exploration as these items are sustainable, easy to access to invite curiosity. When educators embark on projects with children, an enormous creativity is released, and children’s explorations and learning are transformed (Reggio Emilia, The hundred Language of Children chapter 12 page 229).

Children were little distracted by my baby , I also was trying to stop him to involve in this activity because if some interruptions occurs they might could lost their interest.

What can i do differently for next time?

I will read some stories on different seasons like a rainy day or a windy day.’’ And invite them to use natural materials to create more different sounds about water, wind, stones etc. i will explore indigenous music that incorporate with natural elements.

To extend this experience with children in the future, i will encourage them to learn more about cultural songs to help children to make connection with different cultures and diversity and the importance of the land where they came from. I will ensure that every child get involved by our support and feel confident at all times.

I got inspired about Dance and Movement through my country visit as tree leaves, branches were moving around in the wind and talking to each other. I decided to do dance experience with children. I offered them different music options to dance and they picked ‘’chicken banana’’ song then i handed them over colourful ribbons and played the music and children enthusiastically began dancing together. I encourage them join in dance and i noticed that children were following the dance steps on the beat of the song. Children interacted positively in this dance activity and explored many coordination movements. This activity develop their social, physical and emotional interactions with others.

Rationale

Dance and movement are very crucial to young children’s development, offering a positive way for them to express themselves, explore their body movements. Through their movements children shows their emotions, stories in the ways beyond words. Engaging in dance activities support physical development as well as gross motor skills, hand eye coordination. Children can make their move like animals, express their feelings through their bodies.  Young  children  learn  most  effectively  when  they  are  actively  engaged,  rather  than  in  merely  receptive or passive activities.(Wilson,Ruth chapter 5 page 11)

In this experience all went so smooth accept little distractions i between i felt children were looked like lost somewhere ,they might need some instructions to follow the steps and i felt like the props they were holding created little distractions for them otherwise everything worked so well.

As children showed their fantastic moves on this activity, i will give them clear instructions for next time to perform well and offer help who need to be more comfortable to perform activity.

In early childhood Education, i will encourage children to perform on cultural songs that they get to know more about diversity. I will be ensure all the instructions are clear and easy to understand for them. I will invite children to make their own dance moves as per their interests and help them with extra support and make them feel confident in their activities.

On my country visit responses, have observed the drama was going on in nature’s creations like bugs, insects, frogs and many more. I got inspired by their voices with intensity as it was getting dark. I made my mind to do this experience with my children to check their knowledge about the animals and to recognise their voices. i collected all the jungle animals to   implement this activity asked them to mimic animals voices, they were so happy and excited to do this activity .

Rationale

Exploring animals with children is a vital way to support their learning .Farm animals brings curiosity and encourage children to ask questions, use their imaginations. During hand on experiences such as singing a song, storytelling, sensory play, children develop their communication skills by learning animals names and sounds. Farm animal activities also promote social and emotional development.  Also got inspired video by learn how to Foley art ,(session 7 in class activity resources) how can use different types of loose parts or natural materials to create different types of sound and noises. Children can also get so much inspiration after watching this video as well we can encourage them to   create their own imaginations with different natural materials. Encourage children to engage in both individual and collaborative explorative learning processes  listen carefully to children’s ideas.(Outcome 4 Children are confident and involved lerners)

In future experience, i will add some story books about different types of animals, birds, and sea creatures so that children can learn more about the animal life and can become aware about to protect them. I will give children more chance to participate in hands on experiences related to the stories will help them build up their language skills.

Overall reflection on music, drama, movements

I have learned so much about music, drama, movements through this unit. Now i got to know about music, drama , movements make learning interactive and helping children to engage themselves .i have also observed that how these activities support children’s overall development by providing them hands on experience. As an educator, i will implement dance, drama, movement activities more often to engage children to grow and feel confident by expressing their feelings.

USA

 https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-02/belonging_being_and_becoming_the_early_years_learning_framework_for_australia.pdf

Learn how to create Foley art video session https://youtu.be/slBnlicFEA4?si=rEvpLY8hMNHDb2SC

Niland , A. (2009). The power of musical play: The value of play-based, child-centered curriculum in early childhood music education. General Music Today, 23(1), 17–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1048371309335625

ISSN: 1931-3756

Wilson, R. A. (2018). Nature and young children: Encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/vu.edu.au?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taylorfrancis.com%2Fbooks%2Fmono%2F10.4324%2F9781315148533%2Fnature-young-children-ruth-wils

Chicken banana song video https://youtu.be/ig7EKb6BrQk?si=37VnzBm5vZ3-ZKL6