How Loud Is Loud?

How are sounds made? How is sound volume measured? Explore decibels and levels of loudness.

• 1.

  Think of as many objects and creatures that make sounds as you can. Use Crayola® Crayons to draw their pictures on index cards. Draw one item on each card.

• 2.

  Combine your cards with classmates in a small group. Think of several ways to classify your pictures using different attributes (for example: country or city sounds; natural or created sounds; pleasing and harsh sounds). Sort your cards using one of these sets of attributes. Choose new categories and sort them again. Repeat until you have sorted them by all of your categories.

• 3.

  Find out how scientists measure loudness. Share information about decibels and the equipment that measures them. If possible, measure the sounds of some of the items on your cards.

• 4.

  Gather as a group again. Decide whether sounds of the items on your cards are soft, medium, or loud. Rank order the sounds from softest to loudest.

Benefits

• Children identify, draw, and classify creatures and objects that make sounds.
• Children research information about decibels and how levels of loudness are measured.
• Children rank order drawings according to loudness of their sounds.

Adaptations

• Explore how things vibrate to create sounds. Experiment with rubber bands, drums, bells, and other objects. Gently place a hand on your throat while you talk or sing. Find out how the human ear works.
• Work in small groups to record various sounds, then trade recordings to identify each others' sound sources. Draw pictures of the creatures and objects that made these sounds on blank BINGO grids. Exchange grids to play a listening game to identify each s
• Older children research the range of sounds that can be heard by the human ear. At what levels can sounds harm human ears? How? Create posters that list decibel levels of sounds from familiar sources. How can you protect your sense of hearing?