Inquiring About Music- The Introduction

This week we started our Sound Inquiry! Our driving question is, "How can we create an area for students at the ECC to explore sound?"  In order to prepare for this, we need to investigate different ways to make sounds.  They were all very excited to start exploring! I started out by showing them a video by the amazing group STOMP creating music using brooms.  The kids loved it! We have since been watching a video every day showing people making music with odd items including a group that played an impressive version of "Call Me Crazy" by blowing into bottles hanging around their necks!  

The videos have truly inspired them to try creating sound and rhythm with different objects in different ways which is a part of our science standards. Below, a friend brought in some random items from home to show how they create sound!  

I set out some random items and instruments on a table to see what would happen. They started exploring right away.

I then created seperate areas for the kids to explore sound and added questions for them to explore. Next week we will add clip boards for them to document what they notice.  

In the area below, the kids explore and create a song by painting the colors on a strip of paper and then following their music to play their song!

Our friend below created a list while we were outside of the different things he noticed that created sound on our playground!  He presented the list to the class. He also showed us how rubbing a row of magnets created sound, and he showed us how he could create rythym with the zipper on his bag.

These friends below organized a performance for us! They each showed how their instruments made sound, then played them together!  They were very proud!

So far they have noticed that sound can be made by striking, blowing, rubbing, strumming/plucking, and shaking. We also learned that sound is caused by vibrations. Next week we will continue to explore sound and the kids will pick an area to become an expert in!

Here are some other things going on during our exploration time! Music isn't the only thing going on!

Beautiful loose art creations were made as seen below.

Below is a water sculpture. She made it so that the beads would move like a water fountain. 

Habitat creations have been popping up EVERYWHERE!  Based on what I am observing, animal habitats will be our next inquiry!  They have created a reptile habitat, dinosaur habitat (they later added an ocean habitat to this) and an insect habitat.

Below they are painting rocks because they wanted ladybugs for their bug habitat. 

Dressmaking was also popular for a while! They came up with some beautiful designs!

Creating two and three dimentional shapes and words with our magnets is also very popular!

Creating rock sculptures.

And castle building is still very fun for them!

As you can see, we have a lot going on in our room!  I am continuing to love using play and life as teaching tools!  The benefits to these kids are amazing, especially in the areas of problem solving, planning and collaboration!  Stay tuned to see what else is happening in our room next week!