As I mentioned last week, this week saw the introduction of our new inquiry, music inspires and is inspired by thoughts and feelings. More information about this inquiry can be found by clicking on the 'Unit of Inquiry' tab at the top of this blog. We began with a little musical provocation. We played the audio only to a trailer (or preview) of the musical STOMP. We did not show the movie, so the children only heard the sound through the speakers. We then went through a, slightly adapted, thinking routine whereby each child shared what they could hear, what they thought about the audio clip and then how it made them feel. (The original thinking routine is 'see, think, wonder', but this slightly adapted version made more sense under the circumstance.) I noted down their responses as they gave them. Doing this not only means we can refer back to them at a later date, but also gives a sense that the children's thinking and ideas are important. The children said they could hear:
They thought:
The music made them feel:
The children were then invited to draw a picture of what they thought they could hear, or what they thought might be happening. The pictures they drew were of drums, people dancing, and people clapping. The following day we once more played the clip of the STOMP trailer, but this time we showed the images as well enjoying the audio. The children were fascinated to see that the music was made in unconventional ways. Brooms, basketballs, empty garbage bags and sticks are among the many items used to create music to which the STOMP artists dance. I would encourage you to look at the clip yourselves at home, and talk with your child about what they can see and hear. After watching several times, the children were invited to explore a range of everyday objects and to make their own music using them, as can be seen below. This learning engagement was very popular, and we have been interested to note that some children are finding everyday objects when outdoors, and using them to make music of their own accord. It is for sure something we need to continue to allow the children to experiment with as the inquiry progresses. This exploration of commonplace items meant that when, later in the week, we took the children outdoors to see what kind of everyday 'music' we could hear, we found they were much more aware of ambient sounds such as birdsong, creaky doors, the sound of feet shuffling through leaves, and the sound of a broom sweeping the ground. Below you can see some of the items we found which on our walk. You can support your child's learning at home by paying attention to the sounds around you, taking the time to bring attention them and talking about what you hear. It would also be helpful if you found time to simply enjoy listening to music together, whether when out and about in the car, or at home.
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