Listen Up!


Setup
0-2 minutes
Time required
5-15 minutes
Materials
Objects that make interesting, unique sounds. (i.e. tearing paper, pouring liquids, eating an apple, scratching, and opening window or drawer etc.)
How to Play
Start by telling your child to close their eyes and cover their eyes with their hands. Say “I am going to make a noise, and I want you listen carefully and guess what noise I am making”. While your child has their eyes covered, make a familiar noise, such as closing the door, sneezing, or playing a key on the piano. Ask them to guess the noise without peeking.
Some Tips

Encourage your child to speak in complete sentences when guessing sounds. For example, encourage them to say “I heard you sneezing” instead of a one-word response “sneezing”. After a few games, ask your child to make the sound while you guess the noise being made.

Some examples of noise creating activities are: banging on wall/table/lap, blowing a whistle, blowing nose, clapping, clicking with tongue, closing purse, coloring hard on paper, coughing, crumpling paper, cutting with a knife, cutting with scissors, dropping (various things), drumming with fingers, eating an apple, folding paper, hammering, opening window or drawer, pouring liquid, ringing a bell, rubbing hands together, scratching, sharpening a pencil, slamming a book, smashing crackers, snapping fingers, stamping, stirring with teaspoon, tearing paper, tiptoeing, turning on computer.

Make it Easier
Give your child the option of choosing from 2 options if they are having trouble guessing. For example, “Did you hear the door closing or paper tearing?”
Make it Harder

Once your child understands the game, make two noises, one after the other. Without peeking, your child should guess the two sounds one after the other by saying, "There were two sounds. First, I heard a ball bouncing, and then I heard a book closing." After your child becomes good with pairs of noises, make more than two for them to identify and tell you in a sequence.

Make a series of sounds. Then repeat the sequence but leave out one of the sounds. Ask them to name the sound that was left out.

Reference
Adapted from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/phonemic-activities-preschool-or-elementary-classroom