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Can You Hear the Colors?

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Lesson Plan

Synesthesia in Music & Art

Students will explore the concept of synesthesia, specifically the connection between sound and color, and express their interpretations through visual art.

This lesson fosters interdisciplinary thinking, enhances creative expression, and introduces students to new ways of perceiving the world, bridging the gap between auditory and visual experiences.

Audience

5th Grade Students

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Through guided listening and visual art creation.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

20 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What Are Colors?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "What are your favorite colors? What feelings do different colors give you?" (e.g., red for exciting, blue for calm).
  • Introduce the idea that just as colors evoke feelings, music can too. Pose the question: "Can music have colors?"
  • Briefly introduce the term 'synesthesia' as a way some people experience senses crossing over, like hearing colors or seeing sounds. Mention it's a creative way to think about art and music, not a 'right' or 'wrong' answer.

Step 2

Exploring Sound and Color

15 minutes

  • Use the Sonic Art Journey to guide the discussion.
  • Play the first musical excerpt. Ask students to close their eyes and just listen. What colors come to mind? What shapes or movements do they imagine?
  • Lead a brief discussion after each piece, asking students to share their 'color' and 'shape' perceptions. Encourage them to explain why they chose those colors/shapes. (e.g., "The trumpets sounded bright yellow to me because they were so cheerful!")
  • Emphasize that there are no wrong answers; it's about personal interpretation.

Step 3

Coloring Our Soundscapes Activity

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Coloring Our Soundscapes worksheet and art supplies.
  • Explain the activity: Students will listen to another musical excerpt and create a drawing that represents the colors, shapes, and feelings the music evokes.
  • Play a longer musical excerpt (5-7 minutes). Encourage students to let the music guide their hands.
  • Circulate the room, offering encouragement and prompting students to think about how different elements of the music (fast/slow tempo, high/low pitch, loud/soft dynamics) might translate into visual elements.

Step 4

Share and Reflect

10 minutes

  • Invite students to share their creations with a partner or the class. Ask them to describe their artwork and how it connects to the music they heard.
  • Distribute the My Musical Canvas Reflections and instruct students to complete it as a cool-down or homework assignment. This journal will help them reflect on their synesthetic experience and solidify their understanding of the connection between music and visual art.
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Slide Deck

Welcome! What Colors Do You Hear?

Think about:

  • What are your favorite colors?
  • What feelings do different colors give you?
  • Can music make you feel colors?

Welcome students and get them thinking about colors and feelings. This is a warm-up to connect to the main topic.

Synesthesia: Hearing Colors?

Imagine:

  • What if you could see sounds?
  • What if music had its own colors and shapes?

This is called synesthesia – when your senses mix! We're going to explore this today!

Introduce the idea of synesthesia in a simple, engaging way. Emphasize that it's about creative imagination.

Listen & Imagine: Music Excerpt 1

Close your eyes and listen...

  • What colors do you see?
  • What shapes come to mind?
  • How does the music move?

Play the first musical excerpt (e.g., a calm classical piece). Encourage students to close their eyes and visualize.

Share Your Colors & Shapes!

Let's talk about it:

  • What colors did you imagine?
  • What shapes or movements did you see?
  • Why did you choose those colors/shapes?

Lead a brief discussion after the first excerpt. Ask for specific color/shape/movement descriptions and reasons.

Listen & Imagine: Music Excerpt 2

Now for another piece...

  • Do these sounds bring different colors?
  • Are the shapes sharp or smooth?
  • How does this music make you feel?

Play the second musical excerpt (e.g., an upbeat jazz piece). Again, encourage visualization.

More Colors, More Sounds!

What did you notice?

  • Did the colors change with the music?
  • How did the mood of the music affect your colors?
  • Are there any 'rules' or is it all imagination?

Lead another discussion, comparing and contrasting responses from the two excerpts.

Your Musical Canvas!

Time to create!

  • We're going to listen to one more piece of music.
  • You will draw the colors and shapes you hear.
  • Let the music guide your hand!

Transition to the activity. Explain that they will now create their own 'soundscapes' on paper.

Reflect and Share!

What did you discover?

  • How did it feel to 'hear' colors?
  • Your artwork is a reflection of your unique listening journey!
  • We'll reflect more in your journals.

Conclude the lesson by looking forward to their reflections.

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Activity

Coloring Our Soundscapes

Name: _________________________

Date: _________________________

Instructions:

Listen carefully to the music your teacher plays. As you listen, imagine what colors, shapes, and movements the music makes you see or feel.

Use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to draw and color what you hear. Let the music guide your hand! There are no right or wrong answers, just your own unique interpretation.

My Musical Soundscape:





































































































A little about my Soundscape:

What kind of music did you hear? (e.g., fast, slow, loud, soft, happy, mysterious)







What colors did you use most and why?







What feelings did your artwork express?







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Journal

My Musical Canvas Reflections

Name: _________________________

Date: _________________________

Reflect and Write:

  1. Today we explored the idea of synesthesia, which is like hearing colors or seeing sounds. What was the most interesting part of thinking about music in this way?











  2. When you were drawing your musical soundscape, what challenges did you face? What did you find easy or fun?











  3. Think about your favorite song. If you were to draw its colors, what would they be and why? Describe the shapes and movements you might see with that song.











  4. How do you think connecting music and art like this can help you understand both better?











  5. What is one new thing you learned or thought about today regarding music, art, or how your senses work together?











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