Inquiring About Music: The Project (Part 1)

Now that the investigation is over, we needed to come up with the answer to our driving question: How can we create an area for students at our school to explore sound?  

First we had to figure out where a good place would be for this type of exploration area.  They decided the playground was a good spot because all the students go there. They went out and studied the playground then sat down on the grass with clipboards and created maps showing the different areas. Back in the classroom we brought up Google Earth on the Promethium Board to see our playground from that perspective. They worked on this map below using Google Earth as a model. 

They then used the map to figure out the best place to put it! There was much discussion on where it should go and why. Below they are each putting a marker to show where they felt the best place would be for exploring sound. Most picked the area the furthest point away from any classroom windows so that classes would not be disturbed by the sounds.

Now that we knew where it would go, we discussed what we wanted in an area to explore sound. Drums came up the most along with wind chimes. Some wanted electric guitars, violins, and pianos. This brought up a discussion about the need for things that could withstand the weather.  I also mentioned that I didn't have a ton of money for this project so we would have to create it using things that could be reused or bought cheaply.   They came up with a list of what they felt were attainable materials.

One friend dragged me to the home living area to show me these pots and pans. She felt these would be great for exploring sound!

The next step was to create plans showing what the area should look like. They put their engineering design/architectual skills to use by coming up with some fabulous designs to give me a visual of what they wanted in a sound exploration area.

The next step is for me to create a design based on the ideas they gave me. I will do this and present it to them for approval.  

We were wondering how to raise money to create this area and came up with a fabulous idea!  They are creating poetry in Writer's Workshop. We decided to take one poem from each student and create a Class Treasury of Poems. The kids will bind the books and sell them for $2.00 at the Poetry Tea we will be having for our parents. We will be creating order forms so that we will know how many to make. This way, the kids are really invested in the process of raising money for this Sound Exploration Area. It will also motivate them to work hard on creating a beautiful Poetry Tea for our parents. Our Poetry Tea will be on May 2nd at 2:30. After that, we will get the materials and start the construction of our Sound Exploration Area. 

On another note, during our exploration time, some friends were really getting into Bayblades!  They created designs for their Bayblades, then worked together to create a battlefield for the Bayblade Battles. 

Our wonderful student teacher has been working on an inquiry about the sun, moon and stars that she will be starting next week! I'm excited to see what happens with it! It will be a busy time with a lot going on! They will be busy, busy, busy exploring, inquiring, and working on our Poetry Tea all in the next couple weeks!

Inquiring About Music: The Investigation

After a nice Spring Break, we gathered to continue our Music Inquiry. The kids continued to explore creating sounds in different ways. We loved how they would bring us random objects from both inside and outside to show us how hey could create sounds, such as rubbing a stick through a handful of grass or striking a stick against a log and other surfaces, noticing that different surfaces created different sounds. Some also used their artistic talents to create instruments using paper!

They loved how they could feel the vibrations when striking the chimes, reinforcing the fact that sound is caused by vibrations. 

The children choose a way to make sound to become an expert in. Each group organized information by creating a circle chart to show different instruments that create sound in the way they were exploring. I forgot to take photos of the finished charts. I will try to add them to this post on Monday. 

Each expert group chose what instrument their group would make. The shaking experts decided to create rain sticks to show that you can create sounds by shaking.

The striking experts wanted to create cymbals to show that you can make sound by striking. 

The blowing experts created harmonicas to show that you can make sounds by blowing.  They had to measure he straws to create different lengths to show different pitches. 

The strumming/plucking experts are still working on creating guitars to show that you can strum and pluck to create sounds. They used different sized rubber bands to show the different pitches. We are in need of paper towel tubes for them to finish! If any of you parents have any, please send them in.

The rubbing experts will be creating their instruments on Monday.  They will glue sandpaper to blocks (and of coarse paint them so they are beautiful) to show that you can make sound by rubbing. They will have different grades of sandpaper to show different pitches. 

As a whole class, we created kazoos! They loved how they could feel the vibrations when when they used them!  We practiced creating different pitches with them. It took some strong finger muscles to work the rubber bands and thread ribbon through them to decorate them. 

We also created maracas by taping 2 spoons around a plastic egg filled with rice, beans, or sand. Each created a different pitch. We had kids model a rythym with them and we all echoed their rhythms. 

Now that they have investigated, the next steps are for each group to present to the rest of the class about their way of creating sound. We then need to take the information they have learned through exploring and investigating and work on answering our driving question: How can we create an area for kids at our school to explore sound? That journey will be shown in next weeks post. 

Meanwhile, here are a couple other things going on in our class!

In Writer's Workshop, we are discovering that we are all amazing poets! They are being exposed to all kinds of poetry and working on their own poetry treasuries. When we are done, you parents will be invited to a poetry tea so we can share our amazing poems with you!

I found these beautiful flowers and couldn't resist sharing their beauty with the class. They are displayed for them to take a closer look and paint. 

One of our friends brought in a nest with egg shells in it! We set it out for the kids to explore and built this provacation around it to invite further exploration for those who are interested.

Mrs. Garrabrant brought us grocery bags to decorate for Kroger for earth day.  They will use these bags for their customers groceries!

I found some girls trying to plant some dead trimmings from our butterfly bush in our garden plot.  

I then knew it was time to dig out our gardening tools!  The kids were very excited! They weeded, took out the sticks and turned the soil for us. 

I noticed that we need more soil so I will be looking for resources that could help us get some!  They are very interested in planting something, but we haven't decided what yet.  Stay tuned to see what will happen next! 

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!