Age group: Prep class. 5-year-old students.

I chose this activity being inspired from Pauline Oliveros (The difference between hearing and listening) and her amazing and inspiring Ted talk as well as from R Murray Schufer and his video ‘’listen’’ on you tube. Both gave me the opportunity to rethink my knowledge on deep listening and its importance. Through my personal experience with sound, I realised, how many times I avoid listening carefully to the sounds or people around me, and how improving my listening skills can bring joy and intensity to my life. I recorded a soundtrack of ten natural sound effects, which children can listen to deeply and try to identify as well as recognise these sounds. I chose ten simple natural sounds, like the sound of rain, walking, running, beach waves etc. I did purposely keep it simple, so the activity is age-appropriate, understandable, and easy to go through and experience. My age group is pre school students and the goal of the activity is to give the opportunity to children, to experience an interesting activity based on natural sound effects and challenge their deep listening skills. I will focus on assessing children’s deep listening and interpretation of natural sounds as well as create a positive and engaging learning environment, where children can feel creative, interested and engage with the place (classroom) even though these sounds do not come from somewhere they see, or are into. This activity can also challenge children’s imagination as well as can open spaces for meaningful conversations towards nature and its sounds. An extension to this activity, would be for children to share their experiences on various natural sounds and places.

 Observation foteni hatzimihail

-          Introduced her sounds from her on country visit

-          Great introductions (describing the activity to the students) 

-          Asking questions to students 

-          Energetic 

-          Great use of communication and asking easy questions, nothing to complicated  

-          Some students weren’t responding because they couldn’t hear the sound 

-          Students answering back to teacher 

-          Making sure that the students understand 

-          Explaining the situation if students weren’t answering 

-          Multiple sounds presented 

-          Students paying attention 

-          Asking students to play it again if they do not recognise the sound in a calm tone

-          Asking questions such as ‘where you able to hear it?’ ‘can you answer this?’ ‘can you find what was that sound?’ 

-          Trying again when the video doesn’t work 

-          Presents and enthusiastic attitude towards students, very good 

-          Good feedback for the students getting right answers

-          Reviewing what they did in the activities 

-          Asking last minute questions ‘what sounds you like? What sounds you don’t like?’ 

-          Time duration around 8 minutes 

Observation Foteni hatzimihail

-          She introduced the beach 

-          Good introduction and explanation to activity 

-          Imaginary response – first part was very creative to me 

-          Asking students to respond and giving own answers 

-          Showing activity 

-          Good interaction with students 

-          Movement activity was fun, students were enjoying themselves. Foteni gave great feedback to the students who did their best 

-          Time duration 7 minutes 

 

Observation Foteni Hatzimihail

-          Explaining situation with students and telling them what to do 

-          Great explanation and asking students questions if they are unsure about the activity 

-          Very enthusiastic 

-          Students participated 

-          Very joyful activity 

-          Asking questions to students 

-          Foteni explained the activity very thoroughly and simple since our target audience is 3-5 year olds 

-          Time duration 7 minutes