Overview
We’re debuting this care package on 4/13/2020 – families are at home, and many schools have already been closed for weeks. Many young students still want to learn, and it’s simply impossible to recreate a classroom environment at home. However, that’s okay! Not all learning happens in a classroom. We’ve created some items specifically for this project and pulled together a few of our favorite resources from other parts of the internet.
We’re hoping that these open-ended explorations take a little pressure off of caregivers, let kids learn through play, and give learners the freedom to spend more time digging into their favorite parts. And we’re hoping adults can get in on the joy of noise-making.
For our debut release, we’ll be concentrating on tinkering and experimentation. In May, we’ll be adding more material to include math, science, and musical collaboration. We can’t wait to see what you build, and we encourage you to share all and any of it on this week’s forums!
We’re offering printable versions of our activities – we hope these can be useful for teachers and other community educators who are printing and distributing activity packets to support their students. Learning happens best in a community, so we hope you’ll encourage students to share and reflect on what they’re doing and making, in the way that works best for them:
- Call a friend
- Take their instrument on a walk
- Play sounds together with other people at home.
- Record video or audio of what they’re doing
- Create or add to a journal or notebook
The website and video prompts should be just enough to get students started on exploring music – even if you don’t have a printer. We hope you can help your learner join a wider community of makers by sharing your work online – some options for distance learners:
- Share with online classes already in session
- Sign up to post pictures, links, and comments in our online forum – https://fullsteam.mit.edu/forums/forum/week-4/
- Share pictures, videos, and stories with friends and family on social media – feel free to tag us!
Make sure you scroll to the bottom for additional grade levels.
Welcome to Making Music and Sounds Part 1 with the MIT Edgerton Center!
These materials are written for caregivers and distance educators of children grades K-2. We hope these make it easier to guide learners.
What’s inside:
- Listen for new sounds
- Make some noise
- Think: What is sound? What is music?
- Build a simple instrument
- Create an original musical contraption
A quick “note” – the group that collaborated on this Music & Sound project consists not only of teachers, engineers and Makers – but also musicians! We are singers, drummers, guitarists, and finger-snappers, and wanted to share our love of finding and making music with you and the children with whom you share our project. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Part 1: Listen
Download printable packet of Part 1 activities here.
Discover sounds around you with your K-2 learners!
What does your world sound like? MIT Instructor Elizabeth Cavicchi has a challenge for curious listeners:
Here’s a story by Elizabeth’s youngest ever student, using some of her favorite sounds:
Can you use sounds to help you tell a story of your own? What sounds will you decide to use?
Sound Catcher | |
With your learner, spend some time just listening for any sounds, and talk about what you hear! | |
Your Own Sound Story | |
Ask your learner to make up a story that uses some of the sounds that they heard, or add extra sounds into the story. | |
Sound Collector | |
What sounds can you hear? Let’s listen, and write about or draw some of them! |
Part 2: Play
Download printable packet of Part 2 activities here.
Find ways to interact with objects in your surroundings to make music!
Make Some Noise | |
Taking turns, one person chooses an object from the pile and uses it to make a sound! | |
What’s that sound? | |
Take turns identifying mystery sounds. | |
Sound Sampler | |
Using an object from your object pile, make a sound, and then have others take turns trying to imitate the sound with their voice or body. | |
Rhythm Repeater | |
Take turns using your object to sound out a rhythmic pattern, and then have others repeat the sound using their own noisemaker. | |
Stuffphony Orchestra | |
Each player chooses an object from the object pile. Together, play a rhythm – try to create a pattern that includes each player doing something a little different! |
Part 3: Think
Download printable packet of Part 3 activities here.
Sound, Music, and Instruments: Info for adults, with discussion questions.
There are just a few basic ideas young learners need to know to understand sound and music. For each idea, we’re including a little extra information for caretakers and teachers, and a few questions you can ask your learner to help them.
What is sound? | |
What is music exactly? | |
First, you be the judge. Listen to each clip in this playlist for at least 30 seconds, and decide: is it music? Why or why not? | |
What do the experts say? | |
Next, have a look at what a panel of experts thinks – who do you agree with? |
Part 4: Build
Download printable packet of Part 4 activities here.
Let’s build an instrument!
Here are a few ideas for creating simple instruments from things you might already have around the house. We hope you’ll share what you build!
DIY Instrument Examples | |
DIY Instruments: Rubber Band Instruments! | |
How can you use everyday materials and rubber bands to make an instrument? | |
Tube Kazoo | |
Have a cardboard tube or toilet paper roll? Make it buzz! | |
Drinkophone | |
Can a bottle be an instrument? |
Part 5: Create
Download printable packet of Part 5 activities here.
What other musical contraptions could you make?
Musical Contraptions | |
Encourage your learner to invent and build something new! Help your learner through the steps in the document – you can ask the questions below to give them some extra guidance. We’ve included some space for drawing and writing. Now it’s time to invent something of your own! Just follow these steps:
|
Forums:
Welcome to Making Music and Sounds Part 1 with the MIT Edgerton Center!
These materials are written for caregivers and distance educators of children grades 3-5. We hope these make it easier to guide learners. What’s inside:- Listen for new sounds
- Make some noise
- Think: What is sound? What is music?
- Build a simple instrument
- Create an original musical contraption
Part 1: Listen
Download printable packet of Part 1 activities here.
Sound discoveries for learners in grades 3-5!
What does your world sound like? MIT Instructor Elizabeth Cavicchi has a challenge for curious listeners:Sound Catcher | |
Listen and try to find some sounds all around you – what can you hear? | |
Your Own Sound Story | |
Make up a story filled with sounds – you can use some of the sounds that you heard, and you can add other sounds into your story, too. |
Part 2: Play
Download printable packet of Part 2 activities here.
Find ways to interact with objects in your surroundings to make music!
Make Some Noise | |
Taking turns, one person chooses an object from the pile and uses it to make a sound! | |
What’s that sound? | |
Take turns identifying mystery sounds. | |
Sound Sampler | |
Using an object from your object pile, make a sound, and then have others take turns trying to imitate the sound with their voice or body. | |
Rhythm Repeater | |
Take turns using your object to sound out a rhythmic pattern, and then have others repeat the sound using their own noisemaker. | |
Stuffphony Orchestra | |
Each player chooses an object from the object pile. Together, play a rhythm – try to create a pattern that includes each player doing something a little different! |
Part 3: Think
Download printable packet of Part 3 activities here.
Sound, Music, and Instruments: Info for adults, with discussion questions.
There are just a few basic ideas young learners need to know to understand sound and music. For each idea, we’re including a little extra information for caretakers and teachers, and a few questions you can ask your learner to help them.What is sound? | |
What is music exactly? | |
First, you be the judge. Listen to each clip in this playlist for at least 30 seconds, and decide: is it music? Why or why not? | |
What do the experts say? | |
Next, have a look at what a panel of experts thinks – who do you agree with? |
Part 4: Build
Download printable packet of Part 4 activities here.
Let’s build an instrument!
Here are a few ideas for creating simple instruments from things you might already have around the house. We hope you’ll share what you build!DIY Instrument Examples | |
DIY Instruments: Rubber Band Instruments! | |
How can you use everyday materials and rubber bands to make an instrument? | |
DIY Instruments: Exploring Castanets! | |
Build your own castanets to play and dance with! | |
Tube Kazoo | |
Have a cardboard tube or toilet paper roll? Make it buzz! | |
Drinkophone | |
Can a bottle be an instrument? | |
Straw Oboe | |
What music can be made with a single straw? |
Part 5: Create
Download printable packet of Part 5 activities here.
What other musical contraptions could you make?
Musical Contraptions | |
Encourage your learner to invent and build something new! Help your learner through the steps in the document – you can ask the questions below to give them some extra guidance. We’ve included some space for drawing and writing. |
- Imagine
- “I want to build a musical contraption that…
- What other musical contraption do you want to create? Do you want to build something brand new, or improve on something you’ve already seen?
- Plan
- What do you want your contraption to look like when you are done? Draw your idea.
- Build!
- When you are done, draw a picture of what you actually made.
- Label the parts. Tell what each part does when you play your contraption.
- Reflect to Improve
- Ask yourself these questions:
- While you were building…
- ..what changes did you make to your original idea?
- …what problems did you have, and how did you fix them?
- …what made you smile?
- Ask yourself these questions:
- Share!
- Play the instrument for friends or family over the phone.
- Play as you go for a walk together.
- Show it off to an online class or community.
- Play with someone else!
Forums:
Show Us What You Made!Welcome to Making Music and Sounds Part 1 with the MIT Edgerton Center!
These materials are written for distance educators and students in grades 6-8. We hope these make it easier for you to get started!
What’s inside:
- Listen for new sounds
- Make some noise
- Think: What is sound? What is music?
- Build a simple instrument
- Create an original musical contraption
A quick “note” – the group that collaborated on this Music & Sound project consists not only of teachers, engineers and Makers – but also musicians! We are singers, drummers, guitarists, and finger-snappers, and wanted to share our love of finding and making music with you and anyone with whom you share our project. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Part 1: Listen
Download printable packet of Part 1 activities here.
What does your world sound like? MIT Instructor Elizabeth Cavicchi has a challenge for curious listeners:
Sound Catcher and Your Own Sound Story | |
Listen and try to find some sounds all around you – what can you hear? Make up a story filled with sounds – you can use some of the sounds that you heard, and you can add other sounds into your story too. | |
Sound Explorations and Scavenger Hunt Activity | |
Sounds are all around us, even in a “quiet” house. Some we are so used to we don’t notice them, and some sounds we notice but don’t know how they are made. In this activity, listen to your home and turn it into a symphony, a sound puzzle, or your own challenge. |
Part 2: Play
Download printable packet of Part 2 activities here.
Find ways to interact with objects in your surroundings to make music!
If you can get on a computer, you can make some pretty surprising music with just the stuff around your house. In this video, musician Nick Brancazio will show you how to use a free sound editing app to make a symphony out of “found stuff.”
Download Audacity for free here.
Make Some Noise | |
Taking turns, one person chooses an object from the pile and uses it to make a sound! | |
Foley Artist | |
A Foley Artist is responsible for adding sounds to recordings or live performances. These sounds match actions taking place – like door slams – but may use tools other than the real object to make the sound. For example, many foley artists twist and break a bunch of celery to substitute for the sound of a breaking bone! How could YOU make a door slam sound with other objects? |
Part 3: Think
Download printable packet of Part 3 activities here.
Sound, Music, and Instruments: Basic Information for Grades 6-8
There are a few basic ideas that will help you understand sound and music. For each idea, we’re including a little extra information, and a few questions you can ask yourself.
What is sound? | |
What is music exactly? | |
First, you be the judge. Listen to each clip in this playlist for at least 30 seconds, and decide: is it music? Why or why not? | |
What do the experts say? | |
Next, have a look at what a panel of experts thinks – who do you agree with? |
Part 4: Build
Download printable packet of Part 4 activities here.
Let’s build an instrument!
Here are a few ideas for creating simple instruments from things you might already have around the house. We hope you’ll share what you build!
DIY Instrument Examples | |
DIY Instruments: Rubber Band Instruments! | |
How can you use everyday materials and rubber bands to make an instrument? | |
DIY Instruments: Exploring Castanets! | |
Build your own castanets to play and dance with! | |
DIY Instruments: Toolophone! | |
Can the tools you build with be instruments themselves? | |
Straw Oboe | |
What music can be made with a single straw? | |
Exploring Pan Flutes! | |
Have some tube-like materials? Let’s build a pan flute! |
Part 5: Create
Download printable packet of Part 5 activities here.
What other musical contraptions could you make?
Musical Contraptions | |
Invent, design and build the prototype of a musical contraption. The process in the guide can help you! |
Now it’s time to invent something of your own! Just follow these steps:
- Imagine
- “I want to build a musical contraption that…
- What other musical contraption do you want to create? Do you want to build something brand new, or improve on something you’ve already seen?
- Plan
- What do you want your contraption to look like when you are done? Draw your idea.
- Build!
- When you are done, draw a picture of what you actually made.
- Label the parts. Tell what each part does when you play your contraption.
- Reflect to Improve
- Ask yourself these questions:
- While you were building…
- ..what changes did you make to your original idea?
- …what problems did you have, and how did you fix them?
- …what made you smile?
- Ask yourself these questions:
- Share!
- Play the instrument for friends or family over the phone.
- Play as you go for a walk together.
- Show it off to an online class or community.
- Play with someone else!
Forums:
Welcome to Making Music and Sounds Part 1 with the MIT Edgerton Center!
These materials are written for distance educators and students in grades 9-12. We hope these make it easier for you to get started!
What’s inside:
- Listen for new sounds
- Make some noise
- Think: What is sound? What is music?
- Build a simple instrument
- Create an original musical contraption
A quick “note” – the group that collaborated on this Music & Sound project consists not only of teachers, engineers and Makers – but also musicians! We are singers, drummers, guitarists, and finger-snappers, and wanted to share our love of finding and making music with you and anyone with whom you share our project. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Part 1: Listen
Download printable packet of Part 1 activities here.
Sound discoveries for learners in grades 9-12!
What does your world sound like? MIT Instructor Elizabeth Cavicchi has a challenge for curious listeners:
Learning More by Knowing Less | |
A mind-opening activity based on Galileo’s The Cicada – a long time ago, the philosopher/scholar Galileo Galilei explored the idea about what can be learned by being curious and keeping your mind open. |
Part 2: Play
Download printable packet of Part 2 activities here.
Find ways to interact with objects in your surroundings to make music!
If you can get on a computer, you can make some pretty surprising music with just the stuff around your house. In this video, musician Nick Brancazio will show you how to use a free sound editing app to make a symphony out of “found stuff.”
Download Audacity for free here.
Sound Hunt and Sound Symphony | |
Sounds are all around us, even in a “quiet” house. Some we are so used to we don’t notice them, and some sounds we notice but don’t know how they are made and maybe wonder about it. In these challenges, listen to your home, discover interesting sounds, learn how to use them in your own symphony. |
Part 3: Think
Download printable packet of Part 3 activities here.
Sound, Music, and Instruments: Basic Information for Grades 9-12
There are a few basic ideas that will help you understand sound and music. For each idea, we’re including a little extra information, and a few questions you can ask yourself.
What is sound? | |
What is music exactly? | |
First, you be the judge. Listen to each clip in this playlist for at least 30 seconds, and decide: is it music? Why or why not? | |
What do the experts say? | |
Next, have a look at what a panel of experts thinks – who do you agree with? |
Part 4: Build
Download printable packet of Part 4 activities here.
Let’s build an instrument!
Here are a few ideas for creating simple instruments from things you might already have around the house. We hope you’ll share what you build!
DIY Instrument Examples | |
DIY Instruments: Rubber Band Instruments! | |
How can you use everyday materials and rubber bands to make an instrument? | |
DIY Instruments: Exploring Castanets! | |
Build your own castanets to play and dance with! | |
DIY Instruments: Toolophone! | |
Can the tools you build with be instruments themselves? | |
Straw Oboe | |
What music can be made with a single straw? | |
Exploring Pan Flutes! | |
Have some tube-like materials? Let’s build a pan flute! | |
Make a Membranophone | |
A membranophone is an instrument that produces sound with a resonating membrane. What will yours look like? |
Part 5: Create
Download printable packet of Part 5 activities here.
What other musical contraptions could you make?
Musical Contraptions | |
Design a new musical instrument! Follow the Engineering Design Process in the guide to work through the challenge. |
Now it’s time to invent something of your own! Just follow these steps:
- Imagine
- “I want to build a musical contraption that…
- What other musical contraption do you want to create? Do you want to build something brand new, or improve on something you’ve already seen?
- Plan
- What do you want your contraption to look like when you are done? Draw your idea.
- Build!
- When you are done, draw a picture of what you actually made.
- Label the parts. Tell what each part does when you play your contraption.
- Reflect to Improve
- Ask yourself these questions:
- While you were building…
- ..what changes did you make to your original idea?
- …what problems did you have, and how did you fix them?
- …what made you smile?
- Ask yourself these questions:
- Share!
- Play the instrument for friends or family over the phone.
- Play as you go for a walk together.
- Show it off to an online class or community.
- Play with someone else!