Sound Search

Core Learning Experience + Supplies and Equipment

  • ​​Hide behind a couch or a partition with a collection of objects that make a noise. Use each one, and the children try to guess what they are hearing. Some suggestions are: crumpling and tearing paper or foil; pouring water from one container to another; snoring; sneezing; clapping hands; ball bouncing; cell phone ring; scissors cutting.
  • Have the children wear earplugs or cotton balls in their ears. Give simple directions in a very quiet voice, with exaggerated hand movements; soft voice only; hand movements only. How did you know what to do? What helped you understand best? Discuss reasons

Possible/Expected Discoveries

  • Our sense of hearing helps us make sense of things happening in the environment around us. We can hear talking and what is being said; we can hear footsteps, vehicles and music.
  • Predicting: Use a metal container such as a can and a variety of items to shake in the can e.g. beans, pebbles, cotton balls, pasta, feathers, etc. What kind of sound do you think this will make? Encourage new and descriptive vocabulary.
  • Our ears are the parts of our body that we use to hear with. Use magnifiers to look at other children’s ears (volunteers). Talk about the parts; compare shapes, whisper words very close to ears. Is there a reason our ears stick out from our heads? Lets look at pictures of ears of animals – dog, cat, elephant, pig, bird, horse etc Compare shapes, size, and read a book (or online encyclopedia) about the different hearing abilities of animals.

Extended Learning and Other Curriculum Areas

  • ​​Learn some sign language words and letters.
  • Make a shaker with stapled paper plates and beans.  Decorate with streamers. Make one out of a paper towel tube with closed ends.
  •  If possible, explore using a dog whistle with a dog.
  • In later studies, the children will discover that sounds are actually vibrations. If they are ready for this understanding, then this topic can be extended to experiments and discussions about sound vibrations (see web site below).

Activity Packs and Printables

Websites

​http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/body/ear_SW.html

Books

​Sounds by David Bennett
The Ear Book by Al Perkins
The Indoor Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Martin and Carle
Ears are for Hearing by P. Showers
Do Bunnies Talk? By D A Dodds