Natural Soundscape Creation

Overview

In this 15-minute preschool music session for a class of 10 students, children will engage in a collaborative creative experience by using body percussion and vocal sounds to compose a soundscape that represents a New Zealand natural environment. This lesson specifically integrates elements of te whāriki, te whātui pōkeka, and kowhiti whakapae. Students will incorporate whakairo-inspired movements and chant rhythms linked to Māori traditional narratives, deepening their cultural understanding and fostering expressive communication through music and movement.

Alignment with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh

This lesson aligns with The Arts learning area within the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (effective schoolwide from 2027), where students explore and express ideas creatively through integrated arts experiences. It explicitly addresses the key competency Participating and Contributing by encouraging collaborative creation and cultural engagement.

• The Arts Vision Quote: "Artistic excellence makes the world sit up in wonder” .
• Integrates tikanga Māori elements, supporting the Treaty of Waitangi Principles and fostering Māori cultural identity through embodied learning.
• Develops oral language and non-verbal communication capabilities as outlined in Te Mātaiaho English curriculum for young learners, emphasizing expression, volume control, and active listening .
• Encourages exploration of rhythm, pitch, and dynamics consistent with Music strand aims for early years.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will be able to:

1. Use body percussion and vocal sounds to collaboratively create a simple soundscape inspired by a New Zealand natural environment.
2. Experiment with and demonstrate understanding of musical elements: rhythm, pitch, and dynamics.
3. Integrate whakairo-inspired body movements and simple chant rhythms based on Māori traditional patterns (te whātui pōkeka and kowhiti whakapae) corresponding to nature stories.
4. Communicate ideas expressively through sound and movement, showing respect and understanding of Māori cultural contexts.
5. Develop key competencies: Participating and Contributing, Relating to Others, and Using Language, Symbols, and Texts.

Resources

• An open classroom space for movement.
• Visual aids or story cards depicting New Zealand natural environments (e.g., forest, beach, mountains).
• Simple Māori chant or rhythm examples inspired by te whātui pōkeka and kowhiti whakapae patterns.
• Audio playback device (optional) for example chants.
• Pictures or models of whakairo patterns for physical movement inspiration.

Lesson Breakdown (15 minutes)

Time	Activity	Description	Curriculum Links / Notes
0-3 mins	Introduction and Warm-up	Brief storytelling introduction to the chosen natural environment (e.g., a pōhutukawa tree by the sea). Teacher models gentle body percussion (claps, finger snaps) and soft humming sounds. Warm-up with body stretches incorporating whakairo-inspired arm and hand movements.	Supports oral language development and cultural understanding. Embeds Māori narrative tradition. Uses gesture as non-verbal communication (Te Mātaiaho). Builds engagement and active listening .
3-7 mins	Exploration of Sounds and Movements	Students explore making sounds with their bodies: clapping, stomping, patting knees, and using vocal sounds (humming, calls). Encourage experimentation with rhythm (steady beat), pitch (high/low sounds), and dynamics (loud/soft). Introduce simple chant rhythm inspired by kowhiti whakapae to follow. Incorporate whakairo body patterns by mimicking carved lines with arm movements.	Develops musical concepts and embodied expression. Aligns with The Arts learning strand for early years (exploring and creating) and Māori cultural responsiveness .
7-12 mins	Collaborative Soundscape Creation	Guide students to collaboratively layer their sounds and movements to form a soundscape representing the natural scene. For example, stomping to mimic waves, clapping like birds, and chanting Māori rhythms softly interspersed. The teacher facilitates taking turns, listening, and building on each other's ideas.	Encourages participation, turn-taking, and cooperative collaboration. Links directly to Māori concepts through chant rhythm and whakairo-inspired movement. Embodies the Key Competencies particularly Participating and Contributing, Relating to Others .
12-15 mins	Sharing and Reflection	Students share their soundscape by performing together with guidance on vocal volume and movement clarity. Brief discussion inviting each child to name or describe their sound or movement. Teacher praises creativity and cultural expression.	Consolidates learning and communication skills. Supports developing vocabulary and expressive communication (oral language development). Introduces early reflective skills appropriate to age .

Assessment

Formative assessment will be conducted through teacher observation during activities, focusing on:

• Demonstration of participation and cooperation.
• Use of body percussion and vocal sounds with variation in rhythm, pitch, and dynamics.
• Engagement with and imitation of whakairo-inspired movements.
• Ability to listen and respond to peers during collaboration.
• Expression of ideas verbally during sharing time.

The teacher will use notes and anecdotal records to inform future lessons, ensuring extension or additional support as required.

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This lesson actively embodies the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh’s emphasis on biculturalism, key competencies, holistic learning, and early music experiences that build identity and community awareness through creative arts .

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If further detail or adaptations are needed (e.g., for children with additional learning needs), I can support building extensions or scaffolded versions.