Sound maps

Today’s lesson is an exploration of how we can use sound to interact more deeply with place. How does sustained attention to the sounds of a place bring it to life and deepen our understanding of it?

Today’s launch is taken directly from a lesson plan developed by artist Nia Fekri as part of Tools for Solidarity by RESOLVE Collective, published by Mosaic Rooms. Fekri invites us to head outside to creatively compose and visualize sounds.

Take your learners outside after a brief explanation of the lesson’s objectives. Standing in a circle, guide your students to attune to their sense of hearing with the following prompt from Fekri’s lesson plan: “With your eyes closed, cross your arms and tap your shoulders with your hands. What does it sound like? Scratch, clap, tap and make other sounds on your body to awaken your sense of hearing.”

Next, in pairs, invite your learners to go on a sonic treasure hunt in the surrounding area, using the student handout. Fekri asks us to “hunt for a sound where you are. Try and show your friend what makes a smooth sound, a sound that interrupts, a long sound.” Fekri invites us to “find a stick and try to make five different sounds with it,” taking turns between partners.

Finally, call on your learners to “become a composer” as Fekri does. She asks us how we might draw each of the following sounds: a hum, a rough sound, a shy sound, a short sound, a growing sound, and a whistling sound. Refer to the original lesson plan for Fekri’s examples. She suggests that we “draw dots, waves, lines, circles, spirals with different colors.”