Material
Two boxes, one set red and one set blue, each containing six cylinders.
Each cylinder of the red set has an identical sounding blue cylinder.
(The type of material in each cylinder pair varies, creating a different sound for each pair when they are shaken.)
Presentation
- Invite the child to the lesson. Ask the child to watch.
- Place the red box in the left corner, and the blue box in the right corner.
- With your dominant hand, take out the red cylinders one at a time.
- Before setting the cylinder down, with your dominant hand gently shake the cylinder by your right ear two times, and then shake it gently two times by your left ear.
- Repeat this process until all the red cylinders are out, have been listened to and are aligned in a column on the left.
- Repeat steps three through five with the blue cylinders, but place them in a column on the right.
- Pick up the red cylinder closest to you, shake it two times in each ear and then place it down in the middle-front.
- Pick up the first blue cylinder and shake it two times in each ear.
- If it matches set it next to the red cylinder and then move both to the back-middle of the table.
- If it doesn’t match, discard the blue cylinder to the right of the blue column, and repeat the process until you find a match, followed by putting the discard(s) back into the column.
- Repeat this process until all cylinders have a corresponding match. Listen to them after the matching process to verify your matches.
- Invite the child to perform the exercise.
Exercises
Exercise 1, Matching
The child performs the exercise as presented.
Exercise 2, Grading
abc
Language
Loud, louder, loudest, soft, softer, softest.
Games
Matching at a Distance
Grading at a Distance
Bring me Game
Control of Error
When matching, the child’s ability to discriminate with his auditory sense.
When grading, the guide’s graded set.
Direct Purpose
Refinement of the auditory sense.
Indirect Purpose
Preparation for the silence game.
Age
3 1/2 to 4
Notes
Because the sound cylinders isolate volume, the material helps the child to consciously and carefully listen.