Soundscape Directions

Directions:
Fil in the required portions of this document. Be sure to save it. You will submit this file with a link
to your soundscape.
1. The introduction include just a few of the many ideas for soundscapes to get you thinking
creatively. Now it is your turn. Brainstorm a minimum of three soundscape ideas in
different content areas. You should treat this activity as if you are the teacher. You are
creating a project you would have your students do. The soundscape you create will be an
example which you can use in your future pedagogy.
Content Area:
History
Math
Science
History

Soundscape Idea:
Students will create a soundscape based on what they think is
important from a certain time period.
Students will be given a code for different sounds. Then listen to a
soundscape to decode math problems and solve.
Students will create a soundscape on the different sounds from
space.
Students will listen to a soundscape and decide what the different
sounds relate to.

1. Choose the idea you like the most. Write a brief summary of your idea.
Students will listen to a soundscape and decide what the different sounds relate to. The
soundscape will focus on a certain time period and highlight important events or happens
of the time. Students will write down what they hear as a soundscape plays. The
soundscape will be played at least two times so students are able to hear each piece.
After the soundscape is complete students will share their ideas of what they heard. This
lesson will be performed at the beginning of the unit, to understand what they already
know, and at the end of the unit, to display what the students have learned.
2. Identify the grade level, content area, and standards.
Grade level:
5th grade

Content area(s):
Social Studies: History

Standards:
1 Analyze historical sources from
. multiple points of view to develop
an understanding of historical
context
2 The historical eras, individuals,
. groups, ideas, and themes in
North America from 1491 through
the founding of the United States
government

3. Brainstorm what sounds you feel should be included in this soundscape. (A bit of a project
outline)
Music of the 1960s
Martin Luther King Jr. speech
Protest
News reports
Poetry of the 1960s

4. Now, create your soundscape. As you create, save your citations.

Citations:
The Beach Boys- Good Vibrations
The Who- My Generation
Requirements:
Minimum of 60 seconds and a maximum of five minutes
Quality editing (smooth transitions between clips, sound level is even - it doesnt fluctuate
dramatically)
Creativity
Accuracy (content and grammatical)
Citations
Due on Saturday, April 25 at 11:59PM
Once your soundscape is complete, paste the link here:
You will also need to post your soundscape to your ePortfolio.

How to Information:
1. You can use audio clips from free sound effects and music sites such as SoundBible and
Free Play Music. Remember copyright and fair use when creating your soundscape. Many
short audio clips from popular songs, movies, speeches, etc. used for educational
purposes can be reproduced.
2. The Library of Congress has access to many historical speeches and other audio files.
3. Use your personal mobile device or computer to record unique sound files (reading a story,
singing, voice overs, etc.)
4. To edit your files and create a cohesive soundscape, you can use an iDevice and
GarageBand. GarageBand is also available on the Macs in the McKee lab.
There is free audio editing software for any computer. Audacity is commonly used in K-12
schools and is rather easy to use. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
5. Load your finished file to YouTube, add the link to this document, and load it to your
ePortfolio.
6. Save plenty of time for creation to account for technical difficulties and/or the need for
help.
Audacity:
Sourceforge tutorial
YouTube tutorial: part 1 and part 2
GarageBand:
Tutorial 1
There are many videos available on using GarageBand and Audacity. Just Google whatever you
need.