Sanctuaries of Silence

• In this 360° video, acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton takes us on a journey to the Hoh Rain Forest in Washington State to experience silence, escape the noise pollution of modern life, and connect with the land. 
  

Positives

• Students have the opportunity to disconnect from everything, get calm, and explore the value of silence and the effects of noise pollution on humans.
  
• Through this interactive video, students will understand that nature speaks to them. This experience will connect them with themselves and to the natural world.
• This video encourages students to take action on the problem that silence is on the verge of extinction.

Additional Prerequisites

• A 60-minute lesson plan is available for 9th-12th grade. It can be downloaded in English or Spanish. It includes conversation cards organized around four themes: connection to place, effects of modernization, human connection to the environment, and listening.
• If you click and drag on the embedded YouTube video you are able to see a 360° view.
• The teacher could ask students to sit on the floor in a meditation position, relax, and put on their headphones to watch the video and enjoy the experience.
  

Differentiation

• This video could be used for a lesson on noise pollution and mental health.
• High school students could engage in a discussion where they share how they feel after watching the video.
• In science class, this resource could be used to encourage students to investigate solutions to noise pollution and silence extinction.
• The extension group students could discuss the effects of noise pollution on the human body after conducting an investigation about it.
• Other resources on this topic include Benefits of Urban Trees and Green Spaces - Good for People, the Community, and the Country.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.