
What was that? – He aha tērā? Activity
Why do it?
Why do it? — He aha e mahi ai?
Playing games with tamariki that involve identifying sounds will help them to:
- further develop their concentration skills
- process and respond to sensory stimulation
- practise using their sense of hearing over other senses
- increase their use of mental representation — that is, being able to form images or ideas in their mind.
How to do it
How to do it — Te tikanga mō tēnei mahi
- Find a large tin or a metal pot.
- Collect a variety of small things that will make different sounds when dropped into the tin. Try a peg, a stone, a stick, a teaspoon, a plastic lid, a metal lid, a block, a leaf or a coin.
- Look at all of the things with your tamaiti and name them all.
- Talk about the sorts of sounds they might make if you drop them into the tin.
- Shut your eyes and ask them to drop one thing in and you try to guess what it was.
- See if they want a turn. Ask them to shut their eyes while you drop something in. They might want to practice a couple of times first with their eyes open.
- Talk about the sorts of sounds you hear. What sounded loud and what sounded soft?
Other ideas — Ētahi atu whakaaro
- Help your tamaiti to listen for sounds when you’re out and about: waves or birds at the beach, sounds out in the street, in the garden or at the park.
- See if they can identify different vehicle sounds, such as a motorbike, the rubbish truck or a bus.
- Try listening with your eyes shut.
- Play ‘sounds bingo’. Make a card with up to 9 pictures of things that make different noises. Take a walk and see if you can tick any off your card. Ideas might include a dog barking, a fire engine, birds singing, trucks, trains, people talking or laughing, music playing, water running, wind in the trees or a school bell ringing.
- If you have a smartphone or another device that can record sounds, capture some different noises and see if your tamaiti can guess what they are.
Using more reo Māori
Te reo Māori | English |
---|---|
Tangi(hia) | Sound |
Turituri | Noisy |
Rarahi | Loud |
Mārire | Soft |
Papaki | Clap |
Wawara | Rustle |
Makere | To drop |
Ohorere | Surprised |
Whakarongo | Listen |
Rongo | Hear |
Kei te rongo au te tangi o te moana | I can hear the sound of the sea |
He aha tērā tangi? | What’s that sound? |