From the 1/2 Classrooms

On Wednesday 28th August our Grade 1/2 students participated in an exploration of the Dreamtime story of 'Tiddalick the Frog' as part of an incursion facilitated by Drama Toolbox.

This incursion supported our integrated focus of 'Discovery', where students are investigating:

• The sources of light and the causes of shadows
• How we use sound to represent objects and characters in stories
• How we use design and technology to tell stories. 

They also allowed our students to explore the essential questions of our unit:

• How can we make puppets and instruments?
• How can we use instruments, our bodies and computers to make sounds?
• How can we use sounds and shadows to tell a story?

This incursion also lent itself to the study of character, setting and plot through the narrative genre, which is a focus for Grade 1/2s this term and for their work to create a puppet performance.  These performances will be presented at our Expo in Week 9. 

During this unique incursion our students gained an appreciation of the dreamtime story, as well inhabiting the character of local fauna, emus, frill necked lizards, wombats, koalas, kangaroos, cockatoos and kookaburras. Using performance, music and storytelling techniques the children became part of the story and explored the importance of sharing water and resources.

• Jamie 1PT - My favourite was when I dressed up in the costume.
• Leia 1PT - We learnt that we need to share water.
• Zander 1PT - I liked when the water came out of his mouth.  It was funny! And I liked how they covered Tiddalik up so we didn't know he was there.
• Heidi 1PT - I have two favourite things; I liked the presenter and I liked dressing up.
• Amelia 1PT - I learnt to never drink all the water and never be greedy.
• Sienna 2LP - I liked how we dressed up at animals and acted out the parts at the Tiddalik incursion.
• Ives 2LP - I enjoyed when we were putting the eels inside the blue fabric river and we shook it and they all fell off.
• Darcy 2LP - I learnt that I was good at using puppets!
• Helena 2LP - I learnt that I was much better at acting than I thought I was. I liked when we had to shake our bottoms at Tiddalik to make him laugh!
• Charlie 2LP - I learnt I was very good at acting. My favourite character to act was the cockatoo because it looked cute!
• Ava 2MC - It was amazing and super fun. I really liked dressing up as a kangaroo because I had a big, long tail. I liked pretending to drink the water.  
• Scarlett 2MC - It was super fun and I got to dress up as a kangaroo. Boing, boing, boing!  
• Liam 2MC - I liked watching everyone else in the class act out the story of Tiddalik.  
• Kiaan 2MC - I enjoyed making Tiddalik laugh because it was fun to watch him wake up and then go to sleep again.
• Arthur 2MC - I really liked drinking the water and being the animals with my friends. 
• Gavin 2MC - I really liked to drink the water and dress up with my friends. I especially liked the eels when they were in the water and we were tossing them in the air. 

For those not familiar with the word 'Dreamtime' this word refers to the period in which life was created according to Aboriginal culture. Dreaming is the word used to explain how life came to be; it is the stories and beliefs behind creation. It is called different names in different Aboriginal languages, such as: Ngarranggarni, Tjukula Jukurrpa.

You might like to visit your local library and find other Dreamtime stories to read together as a family at home. Below are a few titles you might like to explore:

• How the Kangaroo Got Its Pouch
• The Rainbow Serpent
• The First Fire
• How The Birds Got Their Colours

Thank you to Monica and the team at Drama Toolbox for an engaging incursion! It was a fantastic experience for all!

Grade 1/2 Teachers 

Paula Paziotis, Karin Tsiandikos-Huf, Llaaneath Poor, Maryanne Cozzio,