Soundscapes

Soundscapes is a drama technique in which sounds are made by voices, body, and objects in the classroom. The sounds usually accompany some action and complete an image of a place or its atmosphere (e.g., street sounds, breaking glass, squeaking door, etc.). Initially, teachers and learners might find these techniques strange. Later, they will see how stimulating they are especially when creating setting.

Preparation

Prepare or select a story to tell that references many sounds or insert them into a simple story. See below for an example for rain forest.

When to Use It

• To enliven a dialogue • To be more inclusive in a dialogue reading

Level

Skills

Practice

Procedure Materials

1. Select a soundscape. Choose one based on the link to a future Paper activity, scene, or dialogue, or have the students vote on one. Preparation Time

E.g., train station, rain forest, zoo, intersection, bus, etc. 5 minutes 2. Brainstorm sounds from the location; write them on the board. 3. As the brainstorming activity proceeds, have students create Activity Time sounds for each of the items on the board (doing this in smaller 30–60 minutes groups might help learners be more comfortable trying out their sounds). 4. Assign student(s) to particular sounds (or allow them to choose based on what sound they can make) so they pay attention to their cue to start the sound.

Variations

1. Elicit sound effects from students that they can make (duck, cat, train, telephone, thunder, rain, bird singing, knock on door, applause, etc.). List the sound effects on the board. Students work in groups to produce a story that uses all (or a preselected number) of the sound effects listed. The story should be written down so someone can narrate. As the story is read, students create the sound effects as appropriate. 2. Improv: Students are selected to start dialogue on a particular topic or start one from the textbook or story. A set of students are preselected to insert sound effects during the dialogue. The students performing/reading the dialogue are to adapt their dialogue based on the sound effect inserted. This can be done in smaller groups, and groups can present their improvised dialogues. 3. Allow use of the Drama Box to enhance the activity.

Example (Story to read aloud)

In the Amazon rain forest, there live many birds (tweet tweet). Today, like many days, the sky is overcast and it looks like it will rain (gentle rain sound by tapping fingertips on desk). Yes, it has begun to rain (tapping fingers get faster). The birds no longer sing and the rain gets heavier (tapping fingers). The wind is starting to pick up (tapping fingers and wind sound) and blow the trees. The wind gets stronger and it starts to whistle (whistle sound mixed in with wind). Suddenly, a bolt of lightening lights up the sky accompanied by a loud thunder clap (thunder) and the rain just slows to a few drops (occasional taps). The birds come out again (tweet tweet). Another day in the Amazon.