Information for Educators

Not only is 'Zigzag and The Astronauts' an enjoyable children's album, it can be used by Teachers and Educators to help children achieve some outcomes from the Early Years Learning Framework.

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) is a curriculum framework, which will guide early childhood educators in developing quality, education programmes. The framework describes the principles, practice and outcomes to support and enhance young children's learning from birth to five years, as well as their transition to school. The EYLF has been developed collaboratively by the Australian and state and territory governments with substantial input from the child care and early learning sector and early childhood academics.

The table below outlines how songs from 'Zigzag and The Astronauts' might map to EYLF outcomes:

Zigzag and The Early Years Learning Framework Outcomes
Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity	"Children learn about themselves and construct their own identity within the context of their families and communities… Identity is not fixed. It is shaped by experiences. When children have positive experiences they develop an understanding of themselves as significant and respected" 'Zigzag and The Astronauts' songs explore experiences, feelings and emotions. The song "Sharing" explores the positive and reciprocal nature of the sharing process in an entertaining way that children can understand. It aims to support children in demonstrating increasing capacity for self-regulation of emotions and behaviour.
Outcome 1.2 - Children develop their emerging autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and sense of agency Child is able to self-regulate their behaviour Child is able to share confidently with others
Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing	"Wellbeing includes good physical health, feelings of happiness, satisfaction and successful social functioning. It influences the way children interact in their environments. A strong sense of wellbeing provides children with confidence and optimism which maximise their learning potential." 'Zigzag and The Astronauts' music aims to assist children to "show an increasing capacity to understand, self-regulate and manage their emotions in ways that reflect the feelings and needs of (themselves and) others" through exploring emotions and interactions, such as happiness, joy, sharing, and tiredness. Songs such as "Silly Things" encourage lots of physical movement, and allows children to "engage in increasingly complex sensory-motor skills and movement patterns". The song directs kids to stomp, twirl, and pull funny faces! By taking part in activities like this, children can develop their ability to "combine gross and fine motor movement and balance to achieve increasingly complex patterns of activity including dance, creative movement and drama". Dancing is loads of fun, so 'Zigzag and The Astronauts' provides an opportunity to "respond through movement to traditional and contemporary music, dance and storytelling".
Outcome 3.1 - Children become strong in their social and emotional wellbeing Child shares humour, happiness and satisfaction Child is able to manage and reflect on their own emotions Outcome 3.2 - Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing Child is connected to others in a positive and happy way Child uses their physical skills to engage in dance, creative movement and drama Child responds through movement to traditional and contemporary music, dance and storytelling
Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators	"From birth children communicate with others using gestures, sounds, language and assisted communication. They are social beings who are intrinsically motivated to exchange ideas, thoughts, questions and feelings, and to use a range of tools and media, including music, dance and drama, to express themselves, connect with others andextend their learning." Children "use language and representation from play, music* and art to share and project meaning". 'Zigzag and The Astronauts' songs contain little stories that children can form meaning from, as well as rhythms and melodies that allow children to express themselves by singing and moving to the music. Tracks such as "Love to Make Music" encourage children to critically listen to identify the instruments they hear, while the track "Silly Things" encourages movement in a group environment. The simple, yet humorous* storyline in "Everyone Thought It Was Me" engages children, and will no doubt encourage many retellings long after the song has ended. Zigzag's songs aim to extend and build upon the ever-developing vocabulary of a child, making good use of rhyme, rhythm, and new words to promote question, learning and discussion within the early childhood setting.
Outcome 5.1 - Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes Child is able to construct meaning through verbal communication Child uses language to express meaning about play and creative experiences Outcome 5.2 - Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts Child listens and responds to sounds and patterns in speech, stories and rhymes Child sings and chants rhymes, jingles and songs Outcome 5.3 - Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media Child uses the creative arts such as drawing, painting, sculpture, drama, dance, movement, music and storytelling to express ideas and make meaning Outcome 5.4 - Children begin to understand how symbols and pattern systems work Child makes connections between their own feelings and the feeling of others Child begins to recognise and understand patterns Child can listen and respond to sounds and patterns in speech, stories and rhyme

Zigzag and The Early Years Learning Framework Outcomes

Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity

"Children learn about themselves and construct their own identity within the context of their families and communities… Identity is not fixed. It is shaped by experiences. When children have positive experiences they develop an understanding of themselves as significant and respected"

'Zigzag and The Astronauts' songs explore experiences, feelings and emotions. The song "Sharing" explores the positive and reciprocal nature of the sharing process in an entertaining way that children can understand. It aims to support children in demonstrating increasing capacity for self-regulation of emotions and behaviour.

Outcome 1.2 - Children develop their emerging autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and sense of agency

Child is able to self-regulate their behaviour
Child is able to share confidently with others

Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

"Wellbeing includes good physical health, feelings of happiness, satisfaction and successful social functioning. It influences the way children interact in their environments. A strong sense of wellbeing provides children with confidence and optimism which maximise their learning potential."

'Zigzag and The Astronauts' music aims to assist children to "show an increasing capacity to understand, self-regulate and manage their emotions in ways that reflect the feelings and needs of (themselves and) others" through exploring emotions and interactions, such as happiness, joy, sharing, and tiredness.

Songs such as "Silly Things" encourage lots of physical movement, and allows children to "engage in increasingly complex sensory-motor skills and movement patterns". The song directs kids to stomp, twirl, and pull funny faces! By taking part in activities like this, children can develop their ability to "combine gross and fine motor movement and balance to achieve increasingly complex patterns of activity including dance, creative movement and drama".

Dancing is loads of fun, so 'Zigzag and The Astronauts' provides an opportunity to "respond through movement to traditional and contemporary music, dance and storytelling".

Outcome 3.1 - Children become strong in their social and emotional wellbeing

Child shares humour, happiness and satisfaction
Child is able to manage and reflect on their own emotions

Outcome 3.2 - Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing

Child is connected to others in a positive and happy way
Child uses their physical skills to engage in dance, creative movement and drama
Child responds through movement to traditional and contemporary music, dance and storytelling

Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators

"From birth children communicate with others using gestures, sounds, language and assisted communication. They are social beings who are intrinsically motivated to exchange ideas, thoughts, questions and feelings, and to use a range of tools and media, including music, dance and drama, to express themselves, connect with others andextend their learning."

Children "use language and representation from play, music and art to share and project meaning". 'Zigzag and The Astronauts' songs contain little stories that children can form meaning from, as well as rhythms and melodies that allow children to express themselves by singing and moving to the music.

Tracks such as "Love to Make Music" encourage children to critically listen to identify the instruments they hear, while the track "Silly Things" encourages movement in a group environment.

The simple, yet humorous storyline in "Everyone Thought It Was Me" engages children, and will no doubt encourage many retellings long after the song has ended.

Zigzag's songs aim to extend and build upon the ever-developing vocabulary of a child, making good use of rhyme, rhythm, and new words to promote question, learning and discussion within the early childhood setting.

Outcome 5.1 - Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes

Child is able to construct meaning through verbal communication
Child uses language to express meaning about play and creative experiences

Outcome 5.2 - Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts

Child listens and responds to sounds and patterns in speech, stories and rhymes
Child sings and chants rhymes, jingles and songs

Outcome 5.3 - Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media

Child uses the creative arts such as drawing, painting, sculpture, drama, dance, movement, music and storytelling to express ideas and make meaning

Outcome 5.4 - Children begin to understand how symbols and pattern systems work

Child makes connections between their own feelings and the feeling of others
Child begins to recognise and understand patterns
Child can listen and respond to sounds and patterns in speech, stories and rhyme

Kinderling Kids Radio Album of the Week May 2017

Zigzag and the Early Years Learning Framework