Eco Rhythms Music Lesson
Activity - Outdoors
GradesK-12Visual and Performing Arts
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Provided by Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation
What it is
- This lesson explores the historical roots of music, the "eco rhythms" that can be found in nature, and how living beings are connected to the environment they live in.
- Students will complete an outdoor activity that involves musical improvisation and engage in multiple classroom discussions about the sounds of nature.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This activity may appeal to learners who are musically inclined.
- This activity is hands-on and student-centered.
Additional Prerequisites
- For some classes, teachers may have to select students as participants instead of relying on volunteers.
- Teachers need to find an outdoor location that is safe and full of natural sounds.
Differentiation
- In a social studies class, this lesson can fit within a larger unit on the development of music across human history.
- Some of the links in this resource can be used for a research project on music's role in human development and culture.
- This lesson can enhance a classroom discussion on how spending time outside can benefit one's mental health.
- This lesson can support a classroom discussion on how we take our surrounding environment for granted and distance ourselves from nature.
From the scientist review
This resource from the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation guides students in identifying ecosystem sounds and cycles, which they translate into music. The activity instructions are clear, and a set of debrief questions is provided, offering useful points for discussion or perhaps writing prompts. The resource also includes a list of linked resources from popular and academic sources. Overall, the activity is a creative exercise to prompt students to think about nature’s sounds and rhythms. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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