Loud and Soft Sounds

Looking Around 2 — About Me / Games We Play. Everyday sounds we hear while playing and talking connect with the "About Me" senses topics.

• Sounds can be loud or soft.
• Hitting, blowing, or plucking harder makes a sound louder.
• Loud sounds can hurt our ears if we stay too close for too long.

Verbal: A loud sound is big and strong, like a drum beaten hard or a train horn. A soft sound is small and gentle, like a whisper or a ticking clock.

Symbolic: Hit/blow harder -> sound gets louder. Hit/blow gently -> sound stays soft.

Level 1 — Loud sounds

A big drum beaten hard, a bursting balloon, a train horn, and thunder are all loud.

Level 1 — Soft sounds

A whisper, a ticking clock, rustling leaves, and a purring cat are all soft.

Level 2 — Changing loudness

The same drum can be loud (hit hard) or soft (tapped gently) — loudness depends on how hard we hit it.

Level 2 — India

The loud sound of firecrackers on Diwali versus the soft sound of a temple bell rung gently.

Why does a drum sound louder when you hit it harder?

Step 1 — Hitting harder makes the drum skin vibrate more.
Step 2 — Bigger vibrations carry more sound energy.
Step 3 — More sound energy reaches our ears as a louder sound.
Answer: A harder hit makes a louder sound.

• Name one loud sound and one soft sound you heard today.
• What happens to a bell's sound if you ring it harder?
• Should you stand close to a bursting cracker? Why not?

Stretch: Make a soft sound and a loud sound using only your hands. What did you do differently?

Revision tip: Close your eyes for one minute and list every sound you hear as loud or soft.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Loud and Soft.