Matching Sounds: a Five Senses Activity

This engaging matching sounds activity is perfect for preschoolers, encouraging them to explore and differentiate between various sounds, honing their auditory skills in a fun and playful manner. We always include this activities in our five senses preschool lesson plans.

Whether you’re at home or in the classroom, this activity is easy to set up, making it a wonderful addition to your educational toolkit.

Teaching preschoolers about their five senses is an exciting and engaging way to help them explore the world around them. I mean, preschoolers are always using their senses to make sense of the world, right? So a five senses preschool theme is always fun.

One fun and educational way to focus on their sense of hearing is through a sound-matching activity.

This simple and interactive five senses activity that helps children identify and match different sounds, making learning feel extra playful. This sound-matching game not only sharpens their listening skills but also builds early cognitive abilities through sensory exploration.

Be sure to save this post so you can add this activity to your September thematic activities.

Exploring Sounds with a Five Senses Activity

What Are The Educational Benefits of Matching Sounds?

The educational benefits of a sound matching game for preschoolers include:

1. Auditory Skills Development: Enhances the ability to distinguish between different sounds, which is crucial for language development and listening skills.
2. Sensory Exploration: Engages multiple senses, helping children to better understand and process sensory information.
3. Critical Thinking: Encourages problem-solving as children work to match sounds with their corresponding objects.
4. Curiosity and Engagement: Stimulates curiosity and keeps children engaged through interactive and playful learning.
5. Fine Motor Skills: Handling the bottles and shaking them helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
6. Social Interaction: Provides opportunities for social interaction and cooperative play when done in groups.

Matching Sounds Bottles for Preschool

These matching sounds bottles are a great way to introduce preschoolers to the sense of hearing. You can use these during circle time or at your science preschool centers.

Materials

To prepare for the matching sounds activity, I visited my local pharmacy and explained my project as a preschool teacher.

The pharmacist generously provided me with ten locking-lid prescription bottles, which I decorated with scrapbook paper to cover the pharmacy labels. It’s crucial to use bottles with secure locking lids to prevent spills and ensure the safety of little fingers.

However, since these lids are not entirely foolproof, always supervise children during this activity and I also super glued the lids closed.

Preparing the Sound Bottles

Fill each pair of bottles with different materials to create distinct sounds. Yes, you need two bottles that are exactly the same, otherwise you can’t match the counds.

Try some of these ideas.

• birdseed
• buttons
• small nuts
• pony beads
• dried apricot pit
• metal bolts
• pom poms

The sound each bottle produces can vary based on how full it is, so test each one to ensure the sounds are noticeably different. Make sure to fill each pair with the same amount of material to ensure consistency in sound and tone.

Introducing the Matching Sounds Activity to Preschoolers

When introducing the sound bottles to preschoolers, encourage them to use their sense of hearing to match sounds.

Start by gently shaking a bottle and remind students that a gentle shake is sufficient. Allow each child to shake the bottle themselves. Then, shake the other bottles and ask the children to identify the one with the matching sound.

Continue this process, matching each bottle with its companion of the same filler.

Focusing on the Process, Not Just the Product

I chose not to create an answer key for this activity, emphasizing the process of listening and problem-solving rather than focusing solely on the end result. However, if you prefer to use an answer key, consider placing matching colored stickers on the bottom of each set of bottles.

Since the prescription bottles are made of clear orange plastic, the contents are visible from the bottom, providing an additional hint.

Engaging in this matching sounds activity not only enhances preschoolers’ auditory skills but also adds an exciting element to sensory play, making learning both fun and educational.

Sense of Hearing Activities

Looking for more activities specific to your hearing sense? Try some of these.

• Senses of Hearing Headbands
• Noisy or Quiet?Sense of Hearing Activity
• Painting with Sound Activity

Five Senses Activities for Preschoolers

Take a look at these other five sense activities and add them to your lesson plans.

• Five Senses Preschool Lesson Plans
• “What’s Missing?” Five Senses Activity
• 3 Sense of Sight Activities
• 4 Sense of Touch Activities for Preschool

Sarah Punkoney, MAT

I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.

stayathomeeducator.com/