By tuning in to subtle differences in sound, children practise concentration, attentive listening and sound recognition.
1. Prepare the sounds
Collect a few objects that make different sounds, such as crinkling paper, tapping a spoon on a glass, or shaking a rattle.
2. Position yourself
Hide behind a curtain or stand out of sight, making sure another adult can still supervise the group.
3. Make a sound
Produce one sound at a time while the children listen carefully.
4. Guess the source
Ask the children to guess what the sound is.
5. Reveal and celebrate
After the correct guess, show the object and demonstrate how the sound was made. Repeat with each object, celebrating good listening throughout.
This is a simple activity that builds strong listening skills. Children enjoy the mystery of not seeing the object and it helps prepare them for more focused work in drama and storytelling.
Lucy Quick, Principal of Perform.
