Sound map

Outdoors, children listen in silence for a minute with eyes closed, then mark on paper where the sounds came from – near or far.

Steps

1. Go out to the playground or a park. Everyone has paper with a cross in the middle – that's them.
2. Sit comfortably, close your eyes and just listen for a minute. The teacher keeps time.
3. Children draw or write the sounds on their map: a bird on the left, a car far behind, leaves close by.
4. Compare maps: which sounds did everyone hear? Which were quiet and easy to miss?
5. Earth Day talk: which sounds come from nature and which from people? What could we do to make it quieter?

Tip: For younger children 30 seconds of listening and stick-on pictures instead of drawing is enough. Older pupils can repeat the map somewhere else and compare.

Materials needed

• Clipboards (1 per child)