Week 8 (Day 15)

The day began with morning tea, during which I encouraged children to share their knowledge of the sea and its species. When they discussed fish, dolphins, and crabs, it was clear that children were interested and excited. The children then played imaginative games and pretended to be sea creatures while playing freely outside. They were able to develop their social skills and inventiveness through this unstructured play, which also helped them become more comfortable with physical activities. EYLF Outcome 3, which highlights the value of children establishing physical well-being and cultivating healthy social relationships, is in line with outdoor play (Department of Education, 2022). 

After lunch, I led an educational activity about the ocean and its inhabitants. A brief, suitable for children film introducing the ocean and its inhabitants—fish, turtles, sharks,  jellyfish, and starfish—was shown to the children first. The children were captivated by the video and asked questions about the many creatures they saw. Following the screening, I led a conversation in which I gave children sea-related knowledge and urged them to share their favourite marine creatures. In line with NQS Quality Area 1, which promotes educational initiatives that give children meaningful learning experiences, this activity improved their language and knowledge while encouraging traits like curiosity and enquiry (Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority [ACECQA], 2022).

The value of using visual media to improve children's understanding of new ideas was emphasised in today's activity. The children were able to form significant connections with the issue thanks to the underwater movie, which sparked their interest and served as a starting point for conversations. The significance of guided learning experiences in promoting children's development is emphasised by Vygotsky's theory of sociocultural development (Berk, 2022). Throughout the session, children expressed their opinions and asked questions, which made this clear. In order to enhance the learning environment and promote children' overall growth, I want to add additional multimedia materials and practical exercises in the future.

References 

Berk, L. E. (2022). Development through the lifespan (8th ed.). Pearson Education.