Music Educators Toolbox
Exploring the Sounds Around Us
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Aim: What are the sounds we hear in the city and in nature?
Summary: Students listen to and describe sounds.
Standards: US 6, 7; NYC 1, 2
Grade: Kindergarten
Concept: Form, Dynamics, Articulation
Artistic Process: responding, creating
Materials: audio examples, student worksheets (The Sounds Around Us, What Do I Hear?)
Time Required: 20 minutes
Instructions
1. Play the following sound effects:
2. Have students identify each sound that they hear on the student worksheet.
Download Student Worksheet (PDF)
3. Play the sounds effects again. Ask students questions about what they hear.
- Are the sounds the same or different?
- Is the sound loud or soft?
- Is the sound connected or separated?
- Is the sound high or low?
- How can we move to that sound?
4. Have students identify and describe other sounds they hear in the classroom or in their neighborhood. Have students draw a picture of the object(s) that make sound on their worksheet.
Going Deeper
- Listen to music that is inspired by nature. What do you hear in the music? Is the music loud or soft? High or low? Connected or separated?
- As students listen, have them circle or point to the expressive qualities they hear on the What Do I Hear? student worksheet.
Download Student Worksheet (PDF)
Assessments
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