Audio editor. Pairs record literary podcasts with quote readings, sound design and music beds.

Creative Amplify (CA)

Recorded podcast review of a class novel

Year 9 · 80 min · 1 device per student plus headphones and a mic

Each student records a 90-second podcast review of a class novel. The review must include a thesis, two pieces of textual evidence read aloud, a recommended audience and a music bed chosen for the novel's tone. They submit individually to the teacher's class podcast feed.

Tools: GarageBand

Sampled environmental sounds in a DAW

Year 10 · 80 min · 1 device per student plus headphones

Each student records 10 environmental sounds (bell, footsteps, water, wind, traffic, school sounds, etc.) and arranges them into a 90-second piece using DAW effects (pitch shift, reverse, time-stretch, layering). The piece must follow a clear narrative arc.

Tools: GarageBand

Vocal layers with auto-pitch and harmonisation

Year 10 · 80 min · 1 device per student plus headphones and a mic

Each student records a single melodic vocal line and uses auto-pitch correction plus a harmoniser plugin to generate three additional harmony parts. They mix the four voices into a 60-second layered vocal track. They submit individually.

Tools: GarageBand, Logic Pro

Composing with virtual orchestral instruments

Year 11 · 100 min · 1 device per student plus headphones

Each student composes a 90-second piece using virtual orchestral instruments (strings, woodwinds, brass) plus effects (reverb, compression). The piece must use at least three instrumental voices and a clear arc. They export and submit.

Tools: GarageBand, Logic Pro, BandLab

Creative Replace (CR)

Each child composes a 16-second melody

Year 5 · 35 min · 1 device per child plus headphones

Each child composes a 16-second melody on virtual piano in GarageBand using four pitches and a clear rhythm. Submit as exported audio.

Tools: GarageBand

Each child builds a soundtrack for a short video

Year 6 · 50 min · 1 device per child plus headphones

Each child takes a 30-second silent video clip (school sports highlights, a nature scene) and composes a soundtrack using a DAW. Submit clip with embedded soundtrack.

Tools: GarageBand, BandLab

Each child records and layers a percussion pattern

Year 6 · 40 min · 1 device per child plus headphones

Each child records four simple percussion lines (foot stomp, hand clap, body percussion, shaker) and layers them into a 16-bar pattern.

Tools: GarageBand, BandLab

Beat programming in a step sequencer

Year 8 · 45 min · 1 device per student plus headphones

Each student programs a 16-step beat using kick, snare and hi-hat samples in a step sequencer. The beat must have a four-on-the-floor feel and a clear backbeat. They export and submit.

Tools: GarageBand

Composing a 30-second melody in GarageBand

Year 8 · 45 min · 1 device per student plus headphones

Each student composes a 30-second original melody using the virtual piano in GarageBand. The melody must use four distinct pitches and have a clear rhythmic pattern. Students export to mp3 and submit.

Tools: GarageBand

Vocal layers for a simple round

Year 9 · 50 min · 1 device per student plus headphones and a mic

Each student records four sequential layers of their own voice singing the parts of a simple round (e.g. Frere Jacques) on a multitrack DAW. They mix the levels and export.

Tools: Soundtrap, GarageBand

Creative Transform (CT)

Pair podcast on literary analysis with audio quotes and sound design

Year 10 · 100 min · 1 device per pair (pair structure intentional: two voices and dialogue are part of the artefact)

Pairs record an eight-minute podcast analysing one motif across a novel they have studied. The podcast must include three pair-recorded readings of quotes from the text, a music bed chosen to match the motif's emotional weight, and a thesis defended with at least two pieces of evidence. Pairs publish to a class podcast feed.

Tools: GarageBand

Multi-voice target-language podcast series

Year 13 · 240 min · 1 device per pair (pair structure intentional: dialogue requires two voices)

Pairs collaboratively produce a four-episode podcast series in the target language addressing a real audience of target-language learners. Each episode has multiple voices, sound design, music beds, and engages with a contemporary cultural topic. Pairs publish to a shared class podcast feed and write reflective commentary on production choices.

Tools: GarageBand

This page is one of a growing set of PICRAT examples by cell, subject and key stage. Page maintained by Andy Perryer.