Sound and Music Discovery
To explore how objects make sounds and develop early cause-and-effect understanding.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Understanding the World
- Learning area: Understanding the World
- Level: EYFS Birth-2
Objectives
- Explores sound-making objects
- Repeats actions to recreate sounds
- Shows awareness of cause and effect
- Responds to music with movement or vocalisation
Materials
- Shakers, bells, and rattles
- Drums and tambourines
- Sound boxes with different materials inside
- Musical toys and instruments
Instructions
Create a basket of sound-making objects for exploration. Include a variety of sounds—shaking (bells, maracas), tapping (small drums), and tinkling (chimes). Ensure all items are safe and appropriate for mouthing.
Sit with the baby and explore sounds together. 'Listen to this bell! Ding ding ding!' Shake instruments near the baby's ear (not too close or loud) and watch their response. Do they turn toward the sound?
Encourage the baby to make their own sounds. Place a rattle in their hand or help them tap a drum. 'You made that sound! Bang bang!' Celebrate their cause-and-effect discoveries with enthusiasm.
Create opportunities for the baby to notice that different actions produce different sounds. 'Shake it—rattle rattle! Now tap it—bang bang!' Let them experiment with the same object in different ways.
Introduce music and singing throughout the day. Sing action songs with movements, and use instruments to accompany familiar tunes. 'Shake, shake, shake your bells, shake your bells together!'
Connect sound exploration to everyday life. 'Did you hear the door close? That's the click sound!' Help babies notice sounds in their environment and develop listening skills.