Peace at last: Sound

Introduction
This activity uses a story about all the sounds that keep Mr Bear awake at night to introduce a problem for the children to solve. They identify loud and quiet sounds and find ways to stop sounds from entering their ears. The activity gives young children the opportunity to carry out a simple investigation with a degree of independence.

 

Lesson organisation
The practical activity is carried out in groups of six. Three children in each group will be the testers, covering their ears with each object in turn. The other three will together make the sound of Mrs Bear snoring. When each tester has evaluated all the objects the children swap roles and repeat the procedure.

Equipment and materials
A selection of suitable items for covering the ears (1 of each per group) e.g. small cushions or bath sponges, hats with ear flaps, ear muffs, headphones, coats with hoods. Children may also want to suggest items.

Technical notes and safety
1 Warn children that it is dangerous to put objects into their ears (except for ear plugs which are made for this). Do not have small objects, which children might use in this way, available during the activity.

 

2 Children should only cover their own ears not each others.

 

3 Be aware of children who have any hearing impairment and may have difficulty in participating fully in this activity.

 

Click here to see a full list of Health and Safety procedures

Procedure
a Read the story Peace at Last by Jill Murphy. Encourage children to join in with the sounds. Discuss pleasant and unpleasant sounds and times when the children are noisy and when they want peace and quiet.

b Talk about what Mr Bear does to try and fi nd peace e.g. moving from room to room, covering his head with the pillow.

c Ask the children what they can do if a loud sound is bothering them. Suggestions are likely to include various ways of covering the ears.

d Tell the children that Mr Bear would prefer to sleep comfortably in his own bed so he needs something to put over his ears so he is not disturbed by Mrs Bear's snoring. Explain that they are going to test some different ways of covering their ears so they can tell Mr Bear a way which is best for keeping the sound out. Show the children a collection of objects and materials. Is there anything easily accessible that the children would also like to test?

e Children then work in groups to carry out the investigation. A demonstration of how to make a realistic snoring sound may be needed.

f When each group has reported their findings write a letter to Mr Bear (individually or as a piece of shared writing) telling him the solution to his problem.

 

Teaching notes
This activity develops children's understanding that we hear sounds with our ears and that covering them will stop all or some of the sound from going into the ears.

Depending on the age and attainment of the children they may be expected only to identify the best way to shut out the sound or to order the items tested from best to worst.

Fair testing can be introduced by considering whether the children make the snoring sound the same loudness each time.

To make links with music children could use percussion instruments to make the snoring sound.

 

 

Click here to download this activity as a Microsoft Word document