EARLY CHILDHOOD

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Julia L. Hovanec

After I read aloud the book, What Sound Is Morning? by Grant Snider (Chronicle Books, 2020), I introduce students to the work of artist Susan Philipsz, who creates art that explores the power of sound to create emotions. Students then create artful sound sticks using a variety of found objects. The lesson ends with students using their sound sticks to make sounds to express different emotions.

Lesson Benefits
This lesson teaches students about experimentation and sound. Students learn the importance of trying something new while creating unique sounds and an aesthetically pleasing sound stick. They make connections between sound and emotion and identify sounds that surround them.

Allowing learners to experiment with new ideas teaches patience, perseverance, and creative problem-solving.

These are important concepts for young learners. Allowing them to experiment with new ideas teaches patience, perseverance, and creative problem-solving. Learning about sounds helps students become more aware of their surroundings and, to paraphrase the book, fill the world with their song.

Procedures
Ask students: “What do you know about sound? What quiet sounds can you make? Did you know that sounds can create emotions?” Then tell them, “Today, we’re going to read a book about sound and learn about an artist who experiments with sounds and emotions. After that, we’ll create unique-looking sound sticks.”

Objectives

  • Students will identify the life and work of contemporary
  • artist Susan Philipsz and listen to her sound experiments.
  • Students will discover that sound is made up of vibrations or sound waves and identify sounds that surround them.
  • Students will define experimentation as the act or process of trying out a new procedure, idea, or activity.

Materials

  • What Sound Is Morning? by Grant Snider
  • examples of Susan Philipsz sound experiments
  • pre-painted sticks
  • paper bowls
  • chenille stems, jingle bells, beads, bangles, and various found objects that make sound

Reading What Sound Is Morning?
Before reading the book, encourage students to listen for words describing sound. Read the book and make the sounds described with students. Then guide learners in a discussion about what they learned. Ask: “What did you learn about sound?”
Next, introduce students to the work of artist Susan Philipsz. Listen to age-appropriate examples of her work, then discuss the ways that she experiments with the power of sound to create emotions. Ask: “What do you think of her work? Do you think you can experiment with sound?”

Creating Sound Sticks
Give each student a pre-painted stick with their name on it. Create a “buffet” of materials and invite students to fill a bowl with objects they would like to use in their sound experiment. Demonstrate ways students can attach objects to the stick and how they might make sounds.

After the demonstration, invite students to use what they learned to create their sound sticks. Assist them individually as needed.

When their sound sticks are complete, have students gather. Call out an emotion and have them use their sound sticks to express that emotion. Afterwards, have them assist with cleanup as directed.

NATIONAL STANDARD

Creating: Conceiving and developing new artistic ideas and work.

Julia L. Hovanec is an associate professor of art education at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. hovanec@kutztown.edu