Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Animal Sound Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Animal Sound Cards is a free printable card set for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children pick a sound for each animal and circle whether it is loud or quiet, high or low, fast or slow. Then they play the cards as a parade. It is screen free, needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help, a stretch idea and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Each animal has its own card, from lion to tortoise. On every card children finish the line "I play" by choosing a sound. Then they circle one word from each pair: loud or quiet, high or low, fast or slow. Once the cards are filled in, children cut them out and play them one animal at a time, so everyone can listen to the choices.
- LION: I play ________ loud / quiet high / low fast / slow
- MOUSE: I play ________ loud / quiet high / low fast / slow
- ELEPHANT: I play ________ loud / quiet high / low fast / slow
- BIRD: I play ________ loud / quiet high / low fast / slow
- FROG: I play ________ loud / quiet high / low fast / slow
- SNAKE: I play ________ loud / quiet high / low fast / slow
- KANGAROO: I play ________ loud / quiet high / low fast / slow
- TORTOISE: I play ________ loud / quiet high / low fast / slow
How the card set works
Share the sound bank
Start by looking at the sound bank together. Let children try a few sounds before they choose any.
Fill in each card
Children write a sound after "I play" and circle one word from each pair. They can say each choice aloud first.
Cut out the cards
Cut the cards apart so they can be held up, shuffled and put in a new order.
Play the parade
Hold up one card at a time. Children play that animal's sound while everyone else listens.
Why link animals with musical sounds?
Young children already talk about animals in terms of size, weight and speed. Those ideas carry over neatly into music. How an animal looks and moves can give children ideas for how a sound might feel. Choosing a sound for each animal gives them a reason to think about how sounds can differ, and a clear picture to hold in their minds while they decide.
In Key Stage 1 music, children listen carefully, use their voices and play simple instruments. They also experiment with sounds and combine them, using ideas such as volume, pitch and speed. This sheet keeps those ideas simple. Children make choices, try them out loud and hear how others have chosen. Children can pick different sounds, which makes listening part of the fun.
Skills and curriculum link
- Choosing sounds
- Loud and quiet
- High and low
- Fast and slow
- Listening carefully
- Taking turns
Ideas that help children with this sheet
- VolumeVolume is how loud or quiet a sound is. Children can change it by playing more gently or more firmly.
- PitchPitch is how high or low a sound is. A voice can slide up and down to show the difference.
- SpeedSpeed in music is how fast or slow the sounds follow each other. Tapping a steady beat quickly or slowly shows it.
- Body soundsClapping, patting, tapping and stamping are all sounds children can make without an instrument.
Key words
- PercussionInstruments you hit, shake or scrape, such as a drum or shaker.
- Body soundsSounds you make with your own body, such as clapping or stamping.
- Loud and quietHow strong or soft a sound is. This is called volume.
- High and lowHow far up or down a sound seems to be. This is called pitch.
- Fast and slowHow quickly the sounds happen one after another.
- ParadeA line of things shown one after another. Here, each animal takes a turn.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Look at the sound bank together first. Let your child try some of the sounds out loud.
- Fill in the first card together. Say each choice aloud, try the sound, then circle the words.
- Let your child finish the other cards, then cut them out. Hold them up one at a time and play each animal's sound.
- Check against page 2 and talk about the choices. Come back another day and play the cards in a new order.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Fill in the first card together. Let your child say each choice aloud and try the sound before circling. Work on one pair of words at a time, such as loud or quiet, and use clapping or tapping to hear the difference.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to change one stat on a card, such as fast to slow, and play the sound again. Then ask them to explain how the animal's sound changes and why they think the new version sounds different.
Make it a game
Hold up the cards in a new order. The class plays each animal's sound in turn. Then everyone guesses which animal it was. Swap roles so a child holds up the cards and the grown up plays.
Talk about it
- Which animal did you find the easiest to choose a sound for? Why?
- How did you make your sound? Did you use your body or an instrument?
- What changes when you play the same sound loud and then quiet?
- Can you make a sound that goes from low to high with your voice?
- Did anyone choose a different sound for the same animal? How did it sound?
- If you invented a new animal, what would its sound card say?
Take it off the page
Kitchen band
Gather safe items such as wooden spoons, plastic tubs and a cardboard box. Sort the sounds they make into loud and quiet. A grown up should check that everything is safe and clean to use.
Body sound parade
Walk around the room making a different body sound for each animal, such as stamping, clapping or patting. Change the speed and volume as you go.
Draw an animal sound
Draw an animal of your own. Beside it, draw a line or squiggle that shows how its sound moves, high or low, long or short.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first card, then let them lead. Say each choice aloud and try the sound before circling. Praise listening and trying ideas, not only the answer. Come back to the cards on another day.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. The parade works well as a whole class listening game. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, so little extra preparation is needed.
Home educators
Print it alongside books about animals, outdoor listening walks and everyday music making. The cards can be used again for brothers and sisters, or replayed later with new sound choices. It fits a wider music plan for Key Stage 1.
Where this fits in music learning
Before this sheet, children usually explore sounds freely. They listen to their surroundings, clap along to songs and try out voices and simple instruments. This sheet adds a small amount of structure by asking them to make choices and name how a sound changes.
After it, children can move on to longer patterns of sounds, keeping a steady beat and combining several sounds together. They can also begin to compose short pieces for a story or picture, and talk about what they hear using words like volume, pitch and speed.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Animal Sound Cards for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6) in Key Stage 1. Younger children may enjoy it with help, and Year 2 children can use the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise choosing and combining sounds made with simple percussion and body sounds. They think about loud and quiet, high and low, and fast and slow, and listen to how different choices sound.
- Do we need any instruments?
No. Body sounds such as clapping, patting and stamping work well. If you have simple percussion, such as a shaker or drum, children can use it too. A pencil is all you need for the writing.
- What if it feels too hard?
Fill in the first card together. Let your child say each choice aloud and try the sound before circling. Do one pair of words at a time and come back to the sheet another day.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class, and use it as many times as you like.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. The parade works well as a whole class listening game, and it needs no preparation beyond printing.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to the child and keep page 2 with the notes and answers for the grown up.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.