This month in our ‘Empowering Our Youth’ program, we focused on Torres strait Island people and their traditional crafts.
Babies best learn through their senses therefore different experiences were provided to cater for this, Sensory play is a play that stimulates the senses of a child. Focusing on touch, smell, sight, taste, and hearing.
The little fish room have been embracing new learning styles during the month of April exploring the traditional Songs and craft.
Why do we teach different cultures?
The benefit of this program is to become aware of diversity and show respect while exploring culture, heritage, background and tradition and that diversity presents opportunities for choices and new understandings.
Through Music
Songs and dances are a popular way of communicating knowledge by cultures in the Torres Strait. The songs are both modern and ancient and include traditional dance moves and dress.
Most families would be quite familiar of the song TABA NABA, song by the wiggles Christine Anu. In the Little Fish Room, we have been listening to the song and watching the actions trying to copy the actions.
Through Craft
‘Warup is an Islander drum that’s shaped like an hourglass, made out of a wood and decorated with cassowary feathers and natural pigments.
How we made our ‘Warup’:
- Paper cups,
- paper, and
- Sticky tape/ glue
We sat with the children so they could be involved with the making of the warup. We proceeded to demonstrate how to use them, so the children knew how to experience them properly. We placed traditional Torres strait island music on and played the drums while sitting in our yarning circle.
The little fish children enjoyed the cultural experience with the music along with the musical instruments. During this experience the children were able to be exposed to culture that have not yet become aware of.
That’s all from Miss Jess, Miss Natasha and the Little Fish ( Jalumn) children
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