1.Reflecting and synthesising all that you learn in LSKM 221, what are the most important aspects to keep in mind when planning foundation phase lessons?

*Know the content ( the importance to research the subject matter that you will be teaching) and list the important facts,key concepts,skills or key vocabulary terms that one intend to cover.

*Identify the aims and outcomes that you want your learners to achieve as a result of the lesson.

*practice - describe ways in which you will provide opportunities for learners to practice what you want them to learn.

2. What is your opinion about the value of utilising arts integration and play in the foundation phase?

Arts integration and play develop the imagination and creativity of children. Play is essential for growth in children's cognitive, physical, social and emotional development. Teaching through arts encourages active play which provides many benefits like learning to express and Identify emotions, gaining feelings of confidence and academic outcomes.

3.Has your perception and priorities with regards to lesson planning and the inclusion of music (and arts) throughout your teaching and learning in the foundation phase changed?

Yes;  Lesson planning and the inclusion of music positively impact on a child's academic performance and provides an outlet for creativity that is crucial for learning.The inclusion of music in the content areas creates a learning environment that makes all children want to learn.

The value of arts integration:

Arts integration brings focus to the child. It engages learners and offers a variety of ways to construct and demonstrate understanding. Arts helps learners to develop creative problem solving skills, language skills, social skills and inventiveness. The arts provide challenges for learners at all levels and boosts critical thinking. It supports academic achievement and socialisation among learners. It provides teachers with the opportunity to promote and support the developmental needs of learners. Certain forms of arts instruction enhance and complement reading instruction aimed at helping children. Arts integration helps children with story understanding and ability to read new materials. Learners engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject area.

Many music and dance activities are referred to in local languages as "play". Forms of play such as theatrical drama, Musical performances and dances have come to be thought as works. Playing may involve a highly evolved song-dance structure with culturally and socially pre-determined entries and coordinated musical construction. The participants have to understand the play rules including who may play, when and where they may may and how to organise taking turns. Play not only provide an equal opportunity for all participants,but also draw people together and create bonding.

The importance of music play in the foundation phase:

It helps the body and the mind work together. Exposing children to music during early development helps them learn the sounds and meanings of words. Dancing to music helps children build motor skills while allowing them to practice self expression.

Children recognise the melody of a song long before they understand words. The key to musical play in the foundation phase is repitition which encourages language and memorization. Children like songs that repeat words and melodies and use rhythms with a definite beat.

Learners take pleasure in Physical activities that contribute to their development, listening to and responding to music are fundamental aspects of children's play,so as they hear music, children have opportunities to enjoy moving, listening and singing. To develop rhythmical feeling in early childhood there are frequently used physical movements as the joy of music is always connected with Musical expression of children and their spontaneous movement on music. Through listening and responding to music, children deepen their knowledge of the world and expand their intellectual horizons.

Children can explore, listen and respond to music to through:

a. Elementary music instruments.

b. Handmade elementary music instruments.

c. Various materials to create something unique where children can explore and experiment different sounds.

d. Various props in educational process which are quite strong motivational tool from tiny objects with characteristic detail that can induce particular feeling in children activating their fantasy for music.

Music creativity grows out of inner need and desire of children for activity.The fundamental features of the child's creative activity is imagination, activity discovery and creating new solutions to respond to music.

Holistic development it can be defined as an approach to learning that emphasizes the importance of physical,emoti emotional and psychological well-being of a child.

This study unit 1 also focuses more on the importance of using music as a learning in the classroom,music ignites all areas of a child development, intellectual and language.It helps the body and the mind to work together.it also encourages children to practice self expression and memorization.