Study Unit 3: Musical play in the foundation phase.

 

While it is only the middle of the week it has surely been an interesting week so far. I have been at a primary school here in my small karoo town. It was quite something different to experience since it is a less fortunate school. It was so sad to see but so heart-warming to see the children come to school to only eat the meals they are fed at break. So emotionally I am quite confused and heartbroken. But I am grateful for everything I have although we sometimes take it for granted

This study unit was very interesting to work through. To learn about all the different types of play. Before I had worked through the study unit I thought of play as play. Now I know why we play in the classroom and also what types of play there is. I have also learned the importance of play in education.

BASED OF ON THE STORY THAT WAS GIVEN:

What possibly made some learners uncomfortable during these activities?

The one learner did not understand Zulu. Unfortunately, the song the students sang was in Zulu. The other learner felt uncomfortable dancing in front of the boys in the classroom. The one learner also felt that it was wrong to dance to this song since it was the wrong thing to do according to her culture.

 

Can you think of ways to address these issues in future?

Teachers can incorporate songs with different languages. This could be different songs in one lesson or even one song with different languages in the song. This would help the students to get to learn new languages and not be afraid of it.

Teachers could divide the class into two groups, where the boys and the girls could be separated and then maybe the girls would be more comfortable dancing in the classroom. The teacher, when it is possible, the boys can go outside and do it while the girls do it inside, but this would only be possible if there are two teachers in one classroom or two teachers’ team up.

Teachers could also find and more about the cultural values of the students in the classroom and learn which cultures allow what, so now rules are broken. Teachers could sit and talk to the whole class about culture to teach the students the importance of culture and the different cultures so they can respect each other’s culture.