Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Loud Lion, Quiet Mouse: Free Printable Worksheet for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Loud Lion, Quiet Mouse is a free printable music worksheet for Ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Children make animal sounds with their own voices, listen to how each one feels, then colour red for loud or blue for quiet. It is screen free, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the 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
Children meet a lion, a mouse, an elephant and a kitten, each with its own sound. They say each sound out loud, listen to their own voice, then choose a colour: red for loud or blue for quiet. There are boxes for drawing or notes, so children can draw the animal first if they want to. The grown-up joins in and talks about each choice.
- Page 1: The lion goes ROAR!
- Page 2: The mouse goes squeak, squeak.
- Page 3: The elephant goes PARP!
- Page 4: The kitten goes purr, purr.
What children do, step by step
Make the sound
Your child says the animal sound out loud, such as ROAR or purr. Doing the sound first helps them hear it before they decide.
Listen and think
Ask, "Was that a big voice or a small voice?" Let your child answer in their own words.
Choose a colour
Red is for loud and blue is for quiet. Your child picks a crayon or pencil and colours in their choice.
Draw or talk
Use the boxes to draw the animal or to note what your child says. A scribble is fine at this age.
Why loud and quiet matter in music
In music, how loud or quiet a sound is matters as much as which notes are played. Musicians change the volume to show feelings and to tell a story. A song can start softly, grow bigger and then fade away. Even very young children can hear these changes, and they enjoy copying them with their voices, hands and feet.
Young children learn best through play and talk. Making a sound, hearing it and then sorting it into one of two groups is a simple way to compare sounds. It also helps children control their voices, which supports singing, speaking and joining in with group music later on.
Sound facts for curious children
- Sound is made when something shakes very quickly. This shaking is called a vibration.
- We hear sound with our ears.
- How loud or quiet a sound is can be called its volume.
- A whisper uses breath and very little voice.
- Musicians can play the same instrument loudly or quietly.
Skills and curriculum link
- Listening
- Loud and quiet
- Using my voice
- Making choices
- Early colouring skills
Ideas to help your child
- Use your own voiceSay a sound in a big voice, then in a tiny voice. Children copy what they hear, so show the difference clearly.
- Use your bodyTry big arm movements for a loud sound and tiny finger movements for a quiet one. Moving helps young children feel the difference.
- Take turnsMake a sound, then let your child make the next one. Taking turns keeps it playful and gives them time to listen.
- Keep it shortDo one page at a time. Stop while it is still fun and come back another day.
Key words
- LoudA big sound that is easy to hear.
- QuietA soft sound that is hard to hear from far away.
- VolumeHow loud or quiet a sound is.
- WhisperA very quiet way of speaking, using breath.
- ListenUse your ears carefully to hear a sound.
- VoiceThe sound you make with your mouth when you speak, sing or shout.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself, as it has the notes and answers.
- Have a red and a blue pencil or crayon ready. Read one page at a time.
- Let your child make each sound before choosing a colour. Draw the animal first if they want to.
- Work through the sheet together the first time. Talk about each choice and ask, "Why did you choose that colour?"
- Check against page 2, then come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Show a loud sound and a quiet sound with your voice, then ask which one fits the animal. Say both sounds side by side so the difference is easy to hear. Let your child copy you before they pick a colour.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to think of another loud animal and another quiet animal, then make their sounds. Can they draw each one in the boxes? Try asking for a sound that is somewhere in the middle, not too loud and not too quiet.
Make it a game
Play a game of roar, squeak and whisper. Start loud, then go very quiet, then loud again. Take turns being the leader. The leader chooses the volume and everyone else copies it as exactly as they can.
Talk about it
- Can you make that sound in a big voice? Now in a tiny voice?
- What sounds can you hear in our house right now?
- Which sounds do you like best, loud ones or quiet ones? Why?
- When do we need to use a quiet voice?
- Can you make a sound with your hands that is very soft?
- What other animals do you know that make a sound?
Take it off the page
Sound walk
Go for a walk indoors or outdoors and stop to listen. Ask your child to point at anything they hear and say if it is loud or quiet.
Pots and spoons
Use a wooden spoon and a safe pan or tub as a drum. Tap it softly, then more strongly. Ask your child to say which one was loud.
Puppet voices
Use soft toys or paper puppets. Give each one a big voice or a tiny voice and act out a short story together.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Make the sounds together and have fun with silly voices. Keep sessions short and praise effort and thinking, not only the colour chosen.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and it supports listening and early music making in Early Years. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider plan with songs, stories and outdoor play. It pairs well with action rhymes and everyday talk about sounds. You can print it again for brothers and sisters or to revisit it a few weeks later.
Where this fits in a child's learning
Before this sheet, children enjoy listening to songs, joining in with action rhymes and copying simple sounds. They notice noises around them, such as doors, traffic and voices, and start to name them.
After this sheet, children can explore sounds that are somewhere in between loud and quiet, then fast and slow, and high and low. They can tap a steady beat, play simple instruments and sing familiar songs with changes in volume.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Loud Lion, Quiet Mouse for?
It is written for Ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Younger children can join in with the sounds and adults can help with colouring. Older children can work more independently and draw the animals in the boxes.
- What will children practise?
Children practise listening for loud and quiet sounds and using their voices in different ways in music. They also practise making a choice, talking about it and colouring.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Your child will need a red pencil or crayon and a blue one for colouring in their choices.
- What if it feels too hard?
Show a loud sound and a quiet sound with your voice, then ask which one fits the animal. Say both sounds side by side and let your child copy you first. Come back to it 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 group of children.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
- Can I use it for home education?
Yes. Home educators and tutors can use it on its own or as part of a wider music plan. It is screen free and works well alongside songs, stories and listening games.
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.