Listening to Country and the hidden music of plants
This lesson invites students to listen closely to the living sounds of Country and the hidden music of plants, inspiring poetry that bridges nature, science, and story.
Part 1: Sounds through the day on Wodi Wodi Dharawal Country
Listen
Experience the natural soundscape of the Poem Forest planting area on Wodi Wodi Dharawal Country.
Reflect
- What sounds do you notice?
- What time of day do you think these recordings were taken? What sounds would be different at these times of day?
Dawn: The first light, birds waking, gentle breezes.
Day: The busy sounds of insects, animals, wind in leaves, human presence.
Night: The quiet hums, nocturnal creatures, rustling leaves. - What do you imagine the weather is like?
- Imagine how this landscape might have sounded:
- 5 years ago before the Poem Forest was planted
- 500 years ago, long before modern changes
- 50 years from now, as the forest grows and changes
Create
Write a poem that captures the journey of sound through time in this place. You might:
- Describe the sounds you hear at different times of day.
- Imagine the voices of the land and animals across centuries.
- Reflect on changes and continuity in the landscape’s soundscape.
Part 2: The Electromagnetic Sounds of Plants
Listen
Plants don’t make sounds we can hear — but they do have bioelectrical activity that can be translated into music. Using a biofeedback device called PlantsPlay, scientists have turned the electrical signals from plants into sound.
Listen to the 'music' of these Poem Forest plants:
- Banksia
- Lomandra
- Wattle
- Gymea lily
Reflect
- What sounds do you hear — clicks, pops, silence?
- What images or colours do these sounds bring to mind?
- How do these plant sounds make you feel?
- Are the sounds what you expected? Why or why not?
Create
Write a poem inspired by the bioelectrical 'music' of plants. You might:
- Describe the sounds and the feelings they evoke.
- Imagine what the plants might be 'saying' through their electrical signals.
- Use sound words or rhythm to mimic the plant’s music.
Share
- Share your poems with family, friends, or classmates.
- Listen to others’ poems and discuss how sound connects us to Country and plants.
- Reflect on how the sounds of the environment and plant life tell stories of place and time.
- Use Cycle Thinking: Share, listen, reflect — then create again!
Tips for Teachers & Families
- Encourage students to spend quiet time listening deeply to natural soundscapes.
- Support creative imagination when writing about sounds from different times and unseen plant “music.”
- Use recordings to spark curiosity about science, nature, and poetry connections.
- Foster respectful listening and sharing environments.
- Connect the activity to Indigenous knowledge of Country and its living voices.
- Use Cycle Thinking to deepen engagement and creativity.