Sound
This was a project we did in my class in Spring 2007 when the children became interested in sounds. This project integrated science, music, literacy, math, and art. We studied objects that make sound, animal sounds, musical instrument sounds, loud and soft sounds.
Books
Activities
Display: Collection of Things That Make Sound
This was a display in our science center of things that make sound. The tray on the left held a drum, castanet, keys on a ring, paper to crumple, water in a bottle, retractable pen, egg with rice inside, and a nut inside its shell. The tray on the right has a collection of bells. Children used these to listen to the different sounds and to play a sound guessing game with friends. Other objects that could be included: velcro, zipper, rainstick, squeaky toy, coin purse with coins.
Display: Can You Make Music with Water?
These are glass vases from the craft store ($0.99 each). I put different amounts of colored water in them. The children used a guiro mallet to gently tap them as they listened to the musical notes made.
Making Musical Instruments: Drums
Empty nut and drink mix cans were covered with a piece of construction paper. Children painted their drums, and we later used them with music at circle time.
Making Musical Instruments: Castanets
We made these with a piece of posterboard folded over. Children decorated them and glued a button onto each side on the inside of the castenet (so that the buttons tap together). We used the castanets at circle time with music.
Making Musical Instruments: Egg Shakers
Children decorated a plastic egg with stickers and filled it with rice to make an egg shaker. We used these at circle time with music.
Sound Game: What Is It?
Several objects that make sound were placed behind a display board. A group of children sat on the other side of the display board while one child went behind the display board. That child chose one of the objects, made a noise with it, and the other children guessed what it was that made the noise.
Sound Game: Who Has It?
In this game, children had to guess who held the object that made a noise. All of the children in the group hid their hands behind their back and closed their eyes. The teacher hid a squeaky toy in the hands of one child. When they opened their eyes, the child squeaked the toy and the group had to guess who had it.
Recorder
We used a voice recorder to record different sounds that we can make, such as loud and soft sounds or animal sounds. The children enjoyed playing it back to hear themselves and their friends.
Photo Walk
We went on a photo walk around the school to find things that make sound. The children were allowed to use one of my old digital cameras to take photos of things they found. The photos were put together in a slideshow presentation with their dictation about the photo, and shared with their parents.
Drawing Things That Make Sound
Children drew pictures of things that make sound. These pictures were put into a class collaborative book, and later their individual pages were placed in their portfolio.
