introduction to my journal


Introduction 

This journal reflects my learning journey in Childhood studies (Drama) focusing on the role of play in teaching and learning. It highlights how activities such as movement, interactions and role play support learners social, emotional and cognitive development. Through weekly reflection I explore how play  can be used as effective teaching tools, especially within South African context. 

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Block 2 : week 5

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 The use of metaphor in this block demonstrated how drama can support children's meaning-making, emotional expression and cognitive development. Metaphors allow abstract or complex ideas to be understood through familiar images, making learning both accessible and memorable. In the context of drama, metaphor becomes embodied, enabling learners to experience meaning physically, socially and emotionally. This aligns with the sociocultural theory of Vygotsky, who argues that learning is mediated through language, interaction and cultural tools. metaphor, in this sense, functions as a powerful mediational tool that supports deeper understanding. In our group, we used the metaphor of a "seed growing into a tree" to represent a child's development. This symbolised growth, resilience, and the importance of care and support. By using a familiar and natural image, the metaphor allowed learners to connect emotionally while also constructing meaning. This reflects Bruner's i...
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Week 3

1.  Yes, I agree with Professor Grey because many young people in South Africa spend more time on technology and structured activities than free play. This reduces opportunities for creativity, social interaction and natural development.  2. Directed and non-directed pay/free pay Directed play is controlled and guided by an adult with specific goals similar to what we did in class during week 3  were told to do a specific play that can make each of us participate and be able to play in it so by doing that we were directed to do a specific thing that has the same outcome at the end, while free play is child-led, spontaneous and based on the child's own interest and imagination. This kind of play will be mostly useful in the foundation phase class, where it can develop focus, following instructions and achieving curriculum goals. Non-directed or free play is child-led, spontaneous and based on the learner's imagination and interests. As a future teacher, I will allow learne...
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Week 5

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 In week 5, we focused on the benefits of play and how learning takes place through drama. The activities were practical and suitable for a classroom environment, especially group-based tasks such as role-play and short scene creation. These activities showed me that play is not only for enjoyment, but also an important tool for developing communication, teamwork and confidence. According to the reading, drama supports children's imagination, confidence and social skills. It allows them to take on different roles and perspectives (Farmer,2011). This aligns with what we experienced in class during the past weeks, as in week 5, there was no face-to-face class, where engaging in dramatic play helped us understand concepts more deeply.  Furthermore, the week emphasised the importance of experiential learning. Instead of passively receiving information, we learned by doing, which made the experience more memorable and impactful. Drama-based learning creates a safe space for learner...
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