Draw a sound map
Use the sense of hearing to make a sound map of your school garden or local park.
Learning objectives:
- Use the sense of hearing as an observational tool to create a sound map
- Enhance locational and place knowledge through mapping
Curriculum links:
- Science: Observe sounds in nature, enhancing understanding of ecosystems
- Art & Design: Create visual representations of sounds
- Geography: Improve locational awareness and place knowledge through mapping
Key vocabulary
Sound | Map | Nature | Observation | Listening | Environment | Identify | Record
Preparation and equipment
Preparation
Listen to bird songs on CDs or online to recognise common British bird calls.
Think about the sounds of nature that are affected by the weather such as trees rustling in the breeze, waves crashing on the shore and so on.
Equipment
- Small wipe boards or clipboards and pens
- Kneelers or cushions to sit on
Step by step
- Have you ever thought of all the different creatures that live in the garden? We can’t always see them but if we are really quiet, we may hear them
- Find a quiet spot in the garden on your own to sit quietly. If we are all quiet we may be able to hear some of the garden creatures – from the birds in the trees, to small insects buzzing by. Even plants make sounds – their leaves moving in the wind. Listen out for people and man made sounds too
- We can draw a map of these sounds. Draw yourself in the middle of your map then draw an arrow to where each sound comes from
- Try to draw the actual sound so you can tell someone about it. Come back together and compare each other’s sound maps
- Point out the different sounds and try to repeat a sound – and describe it, making a guess as to whether it came from a bird or animal or if it was a man made sound
Hints and tips
- Try closing your eyes for the first few minutes in your quiet spot, this will help you focus in on the sounds. The more you practise this the better you will be at hearing the different sounds