Contribuido por Rachael Schefrin

Descripción

This ensemble storytelling and/or music composition activity invites students to create a soundscape together based on places familiar to them.

Direcciones

• Pick one student/teacher to leave the classroom. Their job will be to guess where they are based on the sounds that they hear in the soundscape.
• The other students will decide on a location that they will all create through sound (e.g., library, park, beach, movie theater, etc.).
• After a location is chosen, students will close their eyes, imagine what sounds they would hear in that location, and pick a sound. Students will quietly raise their hand once they have chosen their sound. If their sound is the same as another student’s sound, simply tell them when it is their turn to join the soundscape to join in with the student who has the same sound, or they can each have their moment.
• If you have the time, ask the class to practice their sounds with you as their conductor.
• Conductor hand gestures: hand going up—make your sound louder; hand going down—make your sound
  quieter; pointing to a student—start your sound; hands making an X to student—stops your sound.
• The student/teacher is invited back into the room and asked to lie down or sit in the center of the circle with their eyes closed.
• Start the soundscape by using your conductor hand gestures, adjusting students as they go, until all of them are sharing their sound at the same time. Play with volume throughout. Fade the soundscape by conducting the students to stop their sound one at a time.

Transición a la actividad

“We are going to take ______________ (student/teacher) out of the school through sound. Where are we going?”

Transición fuera de actividad

“Travel back to your desk using your sound to propel you.”

Arreglo del aula

Rearrange the desk for rug space or playing area.

Soportes / Materiales adaptables / Herramientas

• Students can participate by adding a sound, noise, or word to the soundscape.
• Students who are nonverbal can use their bodies or props around the classroom to create sound.
• Group Brainstorm: Once a location is established, you and the students will come up with several sounds together to help generate ideas. (Helpful prompts: “Who are the people you see? What sounds do they make?” or “Are their animals? What sounds do they make.” Make sure they get the whole picture.)
• Side coaching and quietly narrating can help support students who feel frozen and can’t think of a sound.

Posibles funciones de los profesionales de las aulas

• Create sounds.
• Be the center of the circle.

Ajustes para la instrucción a distancia

Ask the Classroom Teacher to leave their desk/screen for a certain amount of time. When performing the soundscape, unmute and call on students rather than pointing to them.