Where Is the Sound Coming From?

With eyes closed or covered, children listen quietly and point to where the hand drum sound is coming from as the teacher plays it in different corners of the room. Children practice careful listening, finding where sounds come from, and enjoying silence.

How to play

1. Sitting in a circle, close our eyes and listen quietly to the room for a few seconds, then share what we heard (2 min).
2. The teacher moves silently and plays the drum somewhere; with eyes closed, everyone points that way, then opens their eyes to check (3 min).
3. Now the drum plays loud or soft, near or far, and we also show near with hands together or far with arms stretched (2 min).
4. One child becomes the hidden musician and plays the drum in a corner while the others find the sound (2 min).
5. Finish by listening to the biggest silence in the class until the drum plays one last time, very softly (1 min).

Rules

• With eyes closed, we don't talk.
• Point without getting up.
• If covering your eyes feels scary, just close them.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: this activity is a great fit; the child can be the first musician or a guide.
• Hearing impairment: use vibration by tapping the drum on the floor near the child so they can locate it by feel.
• Autism: allow eyes open and looking at the floor instead of covering them.

Learning goals

• Find the direction a sound comes from.
• Enjoy and keep silence as a group.
• Tell near and far sounds apart.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pandero
• pañuelo para tapar los ojos: 25

Teacher tip

Don't make anyone cover their eyes: many little ones can't tolerate it and closing them is enough. Move truly silently, taking off your shoes if needed.

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