The Sound of Nature

Nature is filled with an abundance of unforgettable sounds such as breezes whistling through leaves, birds singing early in the morning and streams gurgling over rocks. Use these fun ideas to help your students explore the many sounds of nature.

Forest Concert

Plan a field trip to a nearby nature area. Allow students time to sit and listen for the various sounds from nature, such as those made by birds, insects, and other animals. Talk about the different sounds you hear and ask students to imitate the sounds they heard. Try these suggestions for how to imitate the sounds:

•       birds – hoot, tweet, chirp or whistle
•        insects – buzz, hum, or chirp
•        squirrels – chatter
•       wind – rub hands together; blow air; whistle, swish, or swoosh
•        rain – tap feet or pat thighs; clap hands
•        thunder – stomp feet

Listening Walk

Before heading outside your listening walk, teach your students American Sign Language for a few outdoor sounds (e.g., wind, rain, animal, bug) – printable American Sign Language cards are available on the Project Learning Tree website.

Lead your students on an outdoor walk and use the signs to “tell” one another what you hear. Talk about the sounds heard:

• How would you describe this sound?
• Where to you think it is coming from?
• What do you think is making it?
• Can you imitate it?

Match the Sounds

Make two matching sets of plastic eggs filled with naturally “noisy” items (e.g., acorns, pebbles, grass, sand, soil, wood chips). Invite your students to shake the containers and find the matching sounds. Number the eggs and make a chart so you can record the matches.

Mother Nature Had a Prairie Song

Compose a song with your students using the sounds around the Old MacDonald theme. Instead of “Old MacDonald had a farm…,” create a new beginning that ties into the nature theme, such as “Mother Nature had a prairie” (or a pond, forest, etc.) A few animals found in a pond habitat, such as frogs and fish, would be a great verse or two. Integrating other animals and their habitats will reinforce student learning.

Natural Instruments

The natural world is home to many objects or materials that can be used to create sounds. Rubbing twigs together, crunching leaves, tapping rocks, or blowing on a blade of grass produce sounds that can be used to create “instrumental” creations. Combining natural items together would be an excellent way of making instruments. Challenge students to create their own natural sound makers to share with their classmates. Use their creations to study rhythms and other musical topics.

Recording Studio

Set up a recording studio with instruments, microphones, recording devices, CDs of nature sounds and blank media. Encourage your students to mix the sounds they make with natural sounds to create new sound recordings. Replay the new recordings and ask students to choreograph dances inspired by sounds in nature.

Reading Connections

Baylor, B. 1997. Other Way to Listen. Aladdin.

Carlstrom, N. 2000. Way to Wyatt's House. Walker & Company.

Clement, C. 1993. The Voice of the Wood. Puffin Books.

Davol, M.W. 1992. Heart of the Wood. Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers.

Merriam, E. 1993. Quiet, Please. Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers.

Owen, R. 1994. My Night Forest. Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers.

Showers, P. 1993. Listening Walk. HarperCollins Publishers.

Taylor, B. 1997. The Other Way to Listen. Alladin.