Learning Technique: Soundscapes as creative writing prompts

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• Training
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• Primary Education
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)
• BTEC, GCSE

Introduction

Coming up with creative prompts can sometimes be tricky, and keeping your students engaged as they create can also be a challenge. This learning technique is designed to help you engage your students with randomised prompts to encourage discussion, creative writing and many other types of learning. The addition of the sounds should help 'ground' your learners, keep them focussed (as many of the sounds you could use also double up as 'white noise') and inspire them to reach new levels of focus and engagement.

Instructions

These sounds, and many more, are available at https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/.

So you can create your own!

Soundscapes as creative writing prompts

Learning Technique

Imagine you're...

...at SEA

Here we have a simple soundscape. Press play on the audio spot, then let the spinner randomly select a command word for their writing. Let the sounds play as they write to help inspire them in their creative adventure!

...at WAR

5

m

00

s

+30 s

Imagine you're...

In this example, I have added a simple timer that can be pressed after the soundscape has begun. This helps keep your students on-task when writing and teaches them some good lessons on working to a time limit and formulating conclusions (which will be very handy for their exams...)

...in a ___ VILLAGE

Imagine you're...

In this inspiration slide, I have added a secondary spinner to help me randomise the prompt even further!

Sometimes the results make perfect sense, sometimes they might be a bit unusual. Don't worry though! This can inspire your students to come up with new and interesting ways to blend the prompts! Let them have fun with it, and enjoy the results of your students' creativity!

These sounds, and many more, are available at

https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/
So you can create your own!