Inside the Workshops: Where the Magic Happened

Puppets With Personality

Students began by designing and building puppets inspired by their chosen animals. Feathers, cardboard, fabric, paint, pipe cleaners—nothing was off-limits. Characters came to life with moving jaws, flapping wings, and voices entirely invented by the students themselves.

Music-Makers in the Making

In the music sessions, students experimented with rhythm, melody, and soundscapes to recreate their animals’ environments. From the quiet rustle of the rainforest to the roar of the savannah, students composed a musical world for their stories to unfold in.

Stories That Moved the Room

Using their learning from the Humanities classroom, students wrote and rehearsed original stories featuring their puppet characters. They explored ideas around conservation, habitats, and friendship—sharing messages of care, courage, and curiosity.

Watching students rehearse was like stepping into a living storybook: puppets bobbing above little hands, storytellers whispering lines to one another, and bursts of drumming echoing through the hall.

Story of the ‘Great Animal Convention.’

Students told the story of their journey to the Great Animal Convention – a special meeting place between animal friends like Kiwi, Kakapo, Fennec Fox and the Weedy Sea Dragon. On their way to the convention, they faced many obstacles in their different habitats because of climate change. By helping each other along the way, they faced their fears and overcame these challenges together!

Here is a snippet of their songwriting skills:

“We’re going on a journey!
Gonna help the Earth!
Animals together,
Gonna help the Earth!

On the way to the convention, come along
We don’t know the journey, but we’ll be strong
Problems may be waiting, but we will see
Together we will make it, cause we believe!”

Their Song Room program has not only helped students’ social and emotional development, but strengthened their literacy skills through carefully weaving in songwriting and storytelling into their curriculum.

A Celebration of Community Through Arts

One of the most moving parts of the day was seeing the school community—students, teachers, families, and guests—come together through the arts.

Arts learning gave students the tools to collaborate, build confidence, and express themselves, and the final performance was a powerful reflection of this growth. The room filled with laughter, applause, and proud smiles as students showcased their stories, songs, and puppetry in a joyful celebration of creativity. Thank you to visiting Teaching Artist, Lachlan Plain, who led students through the creation and animation of their puppets.

We also extend our gratitude to our guests and partners who attended, especially Charlotte Walker and Stefani Driscoll from the Geelong Community Foundation our funding partner at Grovedale West Primary School. Thank you also to Anna Japp, Rachel Riordan from JB Hi-Fi Workplace Giving, and Song Room Board Director Ali McGregor for all coming along to support the students.

“Before the performance I felt nervous, because I was worried I would forget what to do. But when it was my turn to say my lines, my friends and teachers were smiling at me, and everything I practiced came to me. It was easier to remember because we made the words up about animals and the environment ourselves. I felt proud and happy at the end.” Participating Year 3 Student

A Partnership Making Real Impact

For the past three years, The Song Room’s programs at Grovedale West Primary School have supported students’ literacy, social and emotional wellbeing, and confidence through arts-centred learning. Under the guidance of Teaching Artist Ceridwyn Gordon, these programs have reached whole year levels, making a meaningful difference across the school.

Teachers report improvements in students’:

• expressive language
• confidence in reading and storytelling
• teamwork and communication
• emotional regulation and resilience

The Big Day of Learning was a showcase of just how far these students have come.

The Geelong Big Day of Learning was more than an event—it was a reminder of what becomes possible when students are given the space to imagine, create, and express themselves.

We’re grateful to the Grovedale West community for welcoming us so warmly and for embracing the power of arts learning.

To learn more about how The Song Room transforms learning through the arts at: songroom.org.au