Pushkin – Literacy Unit

Writing Task – all groups

Theme: ‘The Spark of Stillness’

Day 3

Last week we tried to start thinking about the noises around us which become part of everyday life and can make it difficult to find quiet moments. Now we want to think more about stillness as the opposite of noise. Firstly, consider:

• Do you like having a quiet moment (pause) to yourself during the day? Why/ Why not?
• Do you prefer to work in quietness or would you rather have noise/music around? Why?
• Do you find it difficult to find a quiet moment during any day? Why?
• Is it possible to have a quiet time (stillness) to yourself when there is noise around? How?
• What helps you to switch off from sounds around to create your own stillness (zone) or do you find this impossible to do?
• How does stillness/quietness affect your mood?

• Now listen to this piece of music: Rachmaninov, Symphony No.2, Adagio:Adagio; These are two versions of the same piece and the videos are very good for their use of accompanying images.

These are two versions of the same piece and the videos are very good for their use of accompanying images. Just listen to some short extracts if time does not permit longer.

• Remember to use your senses as much as possible in response to music.
• Did you like the music? Why/Why not?
• Think about how the music represents stillness and quiet or even silence.
• Do you think a pause in music can tell us anything? What might this be?
• Think about the images! How do they reinforce the concept/idea of stillness?
• Jot down a few words as to what sort of scene/s the music suggests to you?
• What scenes from everyday life could the music represent? List some ideas!
• Again, feel free to draw what image the music creates for you! It could even be a living thing!
• If you are unable to find this piece of music (for whatever reason) then choose a piece of your own which suggests stillness/quiet and reflect on the same questions above.

Day 4

• Find a quiet place without interruptions (if possible).
• You are going to ‘listen’ to a piece of music.
• When listening keep your eyelids closed. (you can still see with imagination)
• Pay careful attention to your senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell.
• As you are ‘still’ and ‘listening’ let your imagination unfold.
• Use the music and your stillness to light a ‘spark’ in your ideas and thoughts.

Consider these aspects and record as following:

In the stillness I heard ………………………………………………………………………………………….

In the stillness I saw ………………………………………………………………………………………………

In the stillness I could smell ………………………………………………………………………………….

In the stillness I could feel/touch …………………………………………………………………………

In the stillness I could taste ……………………………………………………………………………………

• Now go back over the lines and begin to develop and expand your thoughts by:

• adding adjectives
• adding similes (for example, ‘as’ and ‘like’)
• alliteration (other same sounding words)
• Any other vocabulary of your choice to improve your thoughts
•  

Use your lines to create poems or simply a descriptive piece in response to the music you have listened to and the stillness you have experienced.

• The music link is below: