Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
One Minute Sound Safari: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
One Minute Sound Safari is a free printable listening worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children sit still and listen, tick the sounds they hear, and circle loud or quiet for each one. They finish by drawing their loudest and quietest sounds. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, 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
Children sit still and listen, then tick each sound they hear from a checklist. The sounds are birdsong, a ticking clock, a car or bus, people talking, and wind or rain. For each one they circle loud or quiet. Two boxes at the end let them draw their loudest sound and their quietest sound. The sheet is made for sharing, so a grown up can talk through each choice with the child.
- Birdsong: loud or quiet?
- A ticking clock: loud or quiet?
- A car or bus: loud or quiet?
- People talking: loud or quiet?
- Wind or rain: loud or quiet?
- Draw my loudest sound
- Draw my quietest sound
Getting the most from the listening minute
Be still first
Ask your child to sit comfortably, close their mouth and keep their body still. Stillness makes it much easier to hear small sounds.
Listen before you tick
Listen for the whole minute first. Then go through the checklist together and ask which sounds they actually heard.
Change the place
Try the sheet in a different room, then outdoors. Talk about which sounds stayed the same and which were new.
Use your own words
Accept words such as soft, booming, tiny or squeaky. Describing a sound well is part of the learning.
Why listening matters in music
Music begins with listening. Before children sing, play or move, they need to notice sound. Musicians call loud and quiet dynamics. Young children do not need the word yet, but they can hear the difference and say which they prefer. Everyday sounds are a good place to start because they are all around, free and different every time.
Loud and quiet are not fixed labels. How loud a sound seems depends on how close you are, what else is making noise and how still you are. That is why this sheet works well when repeated in a new place. Children begin to see that listening is a skill, and that they can describe what they hear using their own words.
Fun facts about sound
- Sounds are made when something vibrates, which means it moves back and forth very fast.
- Sound travels through the air to your ears.
- A sound usually seems quieter the further away you are from it.
- Some sounds are so soft that you only notice them when you stop and listen.
- In music, forte is the word for loud and piano is the word for quiet.
Skills and curriculum link
- Careful listening
- Loud and quiet
- Describing sounds
- Sitting still and focusing
- Drawing from memory
Ideas to help you talk about sound
- Compare two soundsAsk which of two sounds is louder, and which is quieter. Comparing is easier for young children than judging one sound alone.
- Think about distanceSounds can seem louder when they are close and softer when they are far away. Try clapping near your child, then from across the room.
- Find describing wordsOffer words like soft, sharp, steady or rumbling. Ask your child to choose the one that fits best.
- Listen againIf your child is unsure, listen for another few seconds. Hearing a sound a second time helps them decide.
Key words
- ListenTo pay attention to a sound with your ears and your mind.
- LoudA sound that is strong and easy to hear.
- QuietA sound that is soft and takes care to hear.
- SoundSomething you hear. It is made when something vibrates.
- DynamicsThe musical word for how loud or quiet music is.
- Body percussionMaking sounds with your body, such as clapping, tapping or stamping.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Sit together and listen for one whole minute. Stay still and quiet.
- Tick each sound you heard on the checklist. Then circle loud or quiet for each one, and talk about the choice.
- Draw the loudest and quietest sounds in the boxes. Ask your child to tell you about their pictures.
- Check page 2 together. Come back another day, in a new place, and compare what you hear.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Listen for only thirty seconds instead of a full minute. Point to each picture or word as you say it. Ask yes or no questions such as, "Did you hear that?" Take the sheet one sound at a time, and finish it later if needed.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to copy one sound using their voice or a body percussion pattern. Can a friend guess which sound it is? Then try making the same sound once loudly and once quietly.
Make it a game
Play statues. Freeze, listen, then whisper the first sound you notice to a friend. Swap roles. Try it in the garden or the playground and see whether you both notice the same sound.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child ticks a sound they know about but did not hear in that minute.
Try thisAsk, "Did your ears hear it just now?" Explain that the safari is only for sounds heard during the listening time.
Watch forA child wriggles or makes noise during the minute.
Try thisTurn it into a game. Ask them to be a statue or a sleeping animal until the minute is over.
Watch forA child says every sound is loud.
Try thisCompare two sounds side by side. Ask which one was easier to hear and which one needed careful listening.
Talk about it
- Which sound did you notice first?
- Which sound was the hardest to hear?
- What words could you use to describe that sound?
- Did you hear anything we did not tick?
- What do you think we would hear in a different room?
- Can you make that sound with your voice?
Take it off the page
Sound walk
Go for a short walk and stop three times to listen. At each stop, ask your child to name one thing they can hear.
Quiet and loud box
Fill a box with safe objects such as a spoon, a paper bag and a small toy. Shake or tap each one gently, and sort them into loud and quiet.
Sound story
Tell a short story and let your child add a sound each time you pause. They can use their voice, hands or feet.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Keep it light and relaxed. Ask about the choices they make, and praise careful listening rather than getting the answers right.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It links to listening and attention in the EYFS and to the Expressive Arts and Design area, and page 2 offers support and stretch ideas.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider music plan and repeat it in different places. It pairs well with songs, outdoor play and everyday talk. Brothers and sisters can all join in the listening minute.
Where listening skills lead next
Before this sheet, children enjoy noticing sounds in daily life, singing songs and rhymes, and joining in with simple actions. They are learning that sounds have different qualities.
After it, children can explore fast and slow, high and low, and steady beats. They can also begin to use loud and quiet in their own music making with voices and simple instruments.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is One Minute Sound Safari for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger or older children can join in too, as long as a grown up shares the listening with them.
- What will children practise?
Children practise listening carefully and describing everyday sounds as loud or quiet. They also practise sitting still, noticing small details and showing what they heard through drawing.
- How do I use it?
Listen for one whole minute first, then tick the sounds together. Circle loud or quiet for each one and draw in the boxes. Try indoors, then outdoors, and compare what you hear.
- What if it feels too hard?
Listen for only thirty seconds and point to each picture or word as you say it. You can do one sound at a time and return to the rest on 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 repeat it in new places.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It gives eyes a rest and gets children listening and talking.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add their own colours to the drawing boxes if they would like to.
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.