Title: A Day Full of Discovery in Wagga Wagga Our exciting visit to Wagga Wagga kicked off with an inspiring concert by the Australian Army Band. Alice observed a range of performances by the band covering a wide range of concert band instruments. Alice seemed particularly captivated, her eyes fixated on the drummer's every move. As Alice is learning drums herself, this provided a unique opportunity for her to observe the need for various types of drumsticks and adaptability during a performance. Observing the drummer's skill and versatility led Alice to the realisation that practice makes perfect. This experience seemed to ignite her drive to practice more in order to improve her drumming. A visit to the free zoo and aviary at the Botanical Gardens, unfortunately, hampered by the closed zoo, diverted our attention to the resident dingoes, the albino peacock and notably, a rotund, boisterous turkey. However, the seeming setback paved way for an unexpected physics experiment at the playground. Alice and her friends occupied themselves with a seesaw and unknowingly embarked on a journey through the principles of physics. The simple act of balancing on the seesaw turned into an exploration of equal and unequal forces, balance and tilt. We discussed how the person's location on the seesaw directly affected the force needed to tilt it. In moving forward, we'll be incorporating a physics lesson to delve deeper into these concepts, modelling a seesaw to understand the effect of weight placement on balance. This hands-on approach will reinforce Alice's knowledge and interest in physics. A day full of music and science - it was certainly a day of enjoyable learning for Alice!

Music

• Alice observed the performances by the Australian Army Band, learning about different concert band instruments and the role of each in the ensemble.
• Alice noticed the drummer's adaptability and use of various drumsticks, gaining an understanding of the equipment and techniques involved in drumming.
• Observing the band's performance and the drummer's skill ignited Alice's realization that practice is essential for improvement in music.

Physical Education

• At the playground, Alice explored the principles of physics through the seesaw, including concepts of equal and unequal forces, balance, and tilt.
• She learned how the person's location on the seesaw directly affected the force needed to tilt it, demonstrating an understanding of weight distribution and force application in a physical activity.

Science

• Alice's experience with the seesaw laid the foundation for understanding basic physics concepts like forces, balance, and weight distribution.
• The plan to incorporate a physics lesson, modeling a seesaw to understand weight placement's effect on balance, will reinforce Alice's knowledge and interest in physics.

For continued development, parents can encourage Alice to explore physics concepts further through simple experiments at home, such as testing different weight placements on a makeshift seesaw or exploring other playground equipment to understand physics principles. Incorporating music into daily practice and exploration will further develop her skills and understanding of different instruments and musical styles.

Book Recommendations

• The Sound of Music by Connie Glynn: A captivating story of an aspiring musician navigating the challenges and joys of pursuing her passion for music.
• The Physics of Everyday Things by James Kakalios: An engaging exploration of the physics behind common objects and activities, perfect for fostering Alice's interest in physics.
• Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle: This book tells the inspiring story of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo and became a world-renowned drummer.