ELA Educator Preparation
In this unit children have fun listening to sounds. Here are some ideas to create a sound-friendly space that will engage children during the week.
Sound Wall Create a wall display with photos or pictures of things that make sound from magazines or online, including a range of things that make loud or quiet sounds, such as trucks, a jackhammer, a sleeping baby, or a breeze. Include pictures of animals that make loud or quiet sounds as well. Label the photos or pictures. Invite children to look at the pictures and talk about the sounds each thing make, and whether they are loud or quiet sounds.
Audio and Video Recordings Bring in a diverse collection of recordings that children can listen to or watch to explore different sounds. Nature videos that feature animal sounds, recordings of musicians playing their instruments—any video or audio that will expose children to the various sounds around them. Talk about the sounds in the recordings—are they loud or quiet? High or low? Give children vocabulary to help them describe the sounds.
Listening Corner Set up a Listening Corner in the Technology Center where children can listen to recordings of sounds. You can stock it with iPods with pre-loaded music or simply have a few recorders with headphones. Use recordings of nature sounds (water rushing, cars beeping, etc.), animal sounds, and any other sounds relating to the unit’s books and media, and also any recordings of the children making sounds during their explorations. Encourage children to sit with a partner as they listen and talk about the recordings. What sounds do they hear?
Book-Browsing Boxes Create book-browsing boxes with fiction and nonfiction books about sound. Label the boxes “Sound Books” and include a matching picture or symbol, such as a musical note. Place them in the Library and other centers.