Self expression in the moment, using sounds ………..

A Mindful listening activity.

A firm favourite amongst the children that I work with – to be able to immerse themselves in a variety of sounds and express how these timbres make them feel in the moment, is liberating. The chosen sounds can be of nature, household sounds, seasonal sounds, comedy sounds – just make a playlist of anything that is relevant at the time and your students will love it. This is a flexible outline for you to develop as you wish. Have fun!

Kirsty

(Lesson plan including a number of mindful activities)

Time –  Duration – 10 minutes. (This can be shortened or lengthened according to need)

Helps – This mindful activity helps with good listening and focus. It encourages self-expression and creativity in response to the sounds heard.

Aim – To create an awareness of sound and an awareness of feelings in the body in response to the sound.

Resources – A prepared playlist of well-chosen sounds, a speaker, paper for every individual and lots of coloured pencils.

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Before the session:

Prepare a playlist. Either stick to a particular theme or mix up ideas. I will have a number of playlists for this session already prepared, so that I can consider which is the most appropriate after observing the mood of the children. Here are some ideas for creating your playlists. The possibilities are endless. (Please use your imagination)

• Sounds from everyday life: tap dripping, footsteps in the snow, children playing on the beach etc.…
• Animal sounds: goats bleating, cats meowing, wolf howling, cockerel crowing etc.
• Seasonal/ weather sounds: scary sounds from Halloween, Christmas bell, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, rain, storms, wind, streams etc.
• Music: from different genres and different instrumentation.

Lay out paper and coloured pencils for the children so as not to spoil the ambience as they enter the room. Play quiet, clam background music.

The session

• Ask the children to walk into the room quietly and calmly and sit in their places. Check the children are sitting comfortably with their bodies relaxed. Dimming the lights can be optional.
• Explain clearly to the group what to expect during the session.
• Play the tracks in the order prepared on the chosen playlist. The sounds can last as little as twenty seconds up to a couple of minutes – use your judgement to sense the correct time to move on.
• The children will listen and can respond by drawing a picture, colouring, drawing shapes, writing words, poems or expressing how the sounds make them feel. The awareness of listening, the awareness of the sounds and the awareness of how they make you feel is important.
• If the children are becoming restless midway through the session, ask them to put their pencils down, take one or two mindful breaths together and then continue.
• The children can, will and should respond initially to the sounds in many different ways. For example a cow mooing seems to create a cacophony of giggles in my classes, whereas a jazz number might allow the children to sway their bodies and click their fingers. These are authentic reactions and fine. Gently direct the children to respond on their paper or to listen mindfully. (gentle movement is fine)
• At the end of the session ask the children to put their pencils down, sit comfortably and take one or two mindful breaths before leaving the room calmly.

*The children can take or leave their artistic endeavours. The creations on paper are a result of their response to the sounds. The awareness is the focus on the sounds and the feelings that they create in the body.

Extension exercise

Resonating sound – diminuendo to silence could be used before, during and after the mindful listening. If used, introduce the concept to the children beforehand and demonstrate the instrument used for the resonating sound.

Take one or two quiet slow breaths before, during and after the session.