Discover With Your Ear

This activity is suitable for preschool and elementary school levels. It aims to make students understand that they need all their sensory organs, not just one, to explore nature. This is because natural beauty appeals not only to our eyes but also to our other senses.

Purpose of the Activity:

leaf To direct children's interest towards nature

leaf To help children listen to and feel nature

leaf To contribute to the formation of "Nature" and "Environment" awareness in children

leaf To increase children's sensitivity towards living and non-living things in their surroundings

First the Story

Ruka was browsing Instagram using Tako's tablet at home. After a while, she realized that Tako wasn't making any noise. She put the tablet aside and looked around to find Tako but couldn't see him.

When she went out to the garden, she saw Tako sitting with his eyes closed. Tako didn’t seem to be sleeping, but she was curious about why his eyes were closed. She quietly approached Tako. Just then, Tako said:

Hello Ruka!

Wow, how did you know it was me with your eyes closed?

Humans have other sense organs besides their eyes, Ruka. Our ears are one of them. I heard you coming.

Hmm... So what are you doing here with your eyes closed?

I'm listening to nature.

Listening to nature? What do you mean?

People sometimes rely too much on their eyes to understand their surroundings, Ruka. But we have four other sense organs. We can hear or smell things that we can't see. For example, you may not see a frog in a place, but when you hear its sound, you know it's there somewhere.

Oh, that's very interesting. You're right. We can't see the wind, but we can feel it.

Exactly, Ruka. Come sit with me, close your eyes, and listen to nature.

Alright, I'm closing my eyes now.

What do you hear now?

I hear the sound of leaves playing in the wind.

What else?

Oh... I hear different birds. It's like... it's like one of them found food and is calling the others... And then... something is flying. Could it be a bee?

You're amazing, Ruka. You noticed many beautiful sounds on your first try.

Yes. Nature is full of surprises. We're not just seeing nature; listening to it offers us another discovery.

Materials

Activity

If suitable, the children are taken to the schoolyard, or if not, to a nearby forest, riverside, botanical park, or lakeside. They are first given the opportunity to observe their surroundings. Questions about colors, plants, and possible animals are asked to draw their interest. They are asked to note the different plants and living things they see in their notebooks (for elementary level).

kids in nature

Then, the children are asked to sit on the ground. If they wish, they can also sit on stones or logs (if available). During the activity, they are not allowed to lay out things like rugs or picnic blankets. The children are told to close their eyes, remain silent, and listen to the surroundings until instructed otherwise after one minute. When the time is up, the children open their eyes at the given command.

Each child is asked what sounds they heard and to describe them. They should be encouraged to imitate sounds, especially those of birds, insects/bees, wind, tree leaves, and water.

Back in the school/classroom environment, they take out their notebooks and are asked to draw a picture combining what they saw with what they heard.

Attention!

This activity may include "opportunity education." If a situation arises during the observation or listening that the children may never see again, the activity should be immediately interrupted, and attention should be drawn to the occurrence. This could be a hedgehog passing by, a snake, an insect, a bird hunting, or a rarely seen animal in the area. Animals should be observed from a distance and under no circumstances should they be touched or approached.

Mantis

Evaluation Questions

leaf Which sound caught your attention the most?

leaf Can you imitate three sounds that you heard for us?

leaf How did you recognize that the sound you heard was from a bird?

leaf Have you ever heard this many sounds in nature before?

leaf How did the sounds you heard make you feel?

leaf What is the difference between the sound of an insect and a bird?