Activity 1: Which is Louder? Copy

Explain to the children that we are going to explore our sense of hearing.

Materials Needed

  • Aluminium cans (self-prepared)
  • Green Beans (self-prepared)
  • Rice (self-prepared)
  • Cups with lids (self-prepared)

How To Do

Let’s follow the step-by-step guide for you to do a hands-on activity with your child.

  1. Now, set up another two plastic cups with green beans in one cup and rice in the other. Close the lid of the cup.
  2. Shake both the aluminium can and the cup that have rice inside.
  3. Ask your child to listen with his/her ears and observe the sound produced. Do both containers produce the same sound? Which container makes a louder noise? (Aluminium can.)
  4. Now repeat the exercise by shaking the aluminium can and the cup that have the green beans inside.
  5. Ask your child to listen with his/her ears and observe the sound produced. Do both containers produce the same sound? Which container makes a louder noise? (Aluminium can.)
  6. Discuss with your child why he/she thinks the aluminium cans make louder sounds compared to the plastic cups even though they contain the same object inside. (Aluminium cans are made from metal, thus produce a louder sound than plastic cups).