Week 6 - Integrating Art Forms

This week we created soundscapes with fellow classmates.  We were instructed to bring in instruments or objects that could be used to make sound.  We formed groups and using landscape images we had brought to class chose one that we all agreed on and connected with.  We then used the image as an inspiration to create a soundscape experience for our other classmates.   

Reflection:  My group chose an image of a glacier between mountains meeting the sea.  We developed a soundscape that we hoped would represent the glacier moving and scraping against the mountains and eventually breaking off into the sea.  This was such a fun experience and I was really proud of what my group created.  We had our classmates sit on the stairs and we created the soundscape underneath of them.  Not only was I proud of what my group created, but it was so much fun to experience what the other groups had created.  This felt like a class in which we all really connected.  I would love to explore this with activity in a primary classroom.

Adaptations:  I think this activity would translate well into a Grade 1 class.  I think I would scaffold using the instruments/noise makers, though.  I would want to allow students the opportunity to explore their instruments so it would become about creating different sounds and experiences, not just making noises.  I think you could do this as a whole group by using prompts such as, “what sound could your instrument create that would sound like a rabbit” or “what sound would your instrument make that would sound like a tree”, etc.  I think this would get students thinking about connecting sounds with common things around them.  I would move to getting them to try and make sounds for things that wouldn’t normally really have a sound (like a pencil, or a jacket).  I would then try and give them images and allow them to create sounds based on those (using powerpoint I would place an image on the screen and give them time to explore sounds based on that).  I would encourage them to think outside what they would normally connect an image with (like a lion, they might initially think of a roar, but I would encourage them to also think of the prowl).

Assessment:  After the scaffolding (maybe over a couple lessons) I would allow them time to create their own soundscapes as groups or individuals.  I would assess how they used their instruments, did they just use their instrument for only one sound, or were they able to produce multiple sounds?  Where they able to find more than one sound for their picture?  Did they understand the idea of creating a sound-story for the picture?  Did it have a beginning, middle and end?  It would be great to record the presentations and allow students to watch them after.  They could likely assess whether their soundscape was a good representation of their picture.  I think having a class discussion after this activity would be really helpful and a great way to assess the learning done in the lesson.