Soundscape Directions

Makayla McBride
Directions:
Fill 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:
Science
Social Studies-History
Reading/Writing

Soundscape Idea:
Weather
Martin Luther King Jr, or Native Americans
Reading a poem with background

1. Choose the idea you like the most. Write a brief summary of your idea.
The idea I like the most is Native Americans in the content area, History. The standard I chose to
go along with this content area is below. I think I will have the students listen to a soundscape of
a Native American themed mash-up. I want it to seem like Native Americans are walking around
a fire chanting and then all of a sudden shots are fired and it turns into war. I will have the
students listen to the soundscape at the beginning of the unit and have them take notes on what
they think is happening and what they think the unit will be about.

2. Identify the grade level, content area, and standards.

Grade level:
5th

Content area(s):
History

Standards:
2. The historical eras,
individuals, groups, ideas, and
themes in North America from
1491 through the founding of
the United States government
a. Identify and describe the
significant individuals and
groups of Native Americans and
European colonists before the
American Revolution (DOK 1-2)

3. Brainstorm what sounds you feel should be included in this soundscape. (A bit of a project
outline)
Indian chants, gunshots, bow and arrows, campfire, people walking, people yelling, horses
trotting, and wind.

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

Citations:
9Bridges. (2013, September 16). Powerful Native American chant music [video file]. Retrieved
from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE_6FNmqY_Y

Deep Ocean of Sounds. (2014, July 31). Asmr walking on gravel sound effect [video file].
Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFWmbnEU3Fs
SoundBible.com. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://soundbible.com/2108-ShootArrow.html
UrbanSurvivalTactics. (2012, May 14). Galloping horse-sound effect [video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArZmaXvrgOU

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 Monday, April 18th at 11:59PM
Once your soundscape is complete, paste the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=X4Lk4WhM89U
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.