First Grade · Science · week 3

Loud and soft, high and low

Distinguish loudness (loud/soft) and pitch (high/low) as two separate properties of sound.

Sounds can be different in two ways: how LOUD they are and how HIGH they are. Loudness is how big or soft a sound is -- a shout is loud, a whisper is soft. Pitch is how high or low a sound is -- a mouse squeak is high, a lion's roar is low.

Loud and high are not the same thing. A sound can be loud AND low, like a big drum, or soft AND high, like a tiny chime. This week you listen carefully for both properties in every sound you hear.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Model both properties yourself first so your child hears one clean example of each word.
  • Play a quick "loud or soft?" and "high or low?" guessing game using your voice or household objects.
  • Watch for a child who thinks loud and high mean the same thing; separate them on purpose with a loud, low example like a drum.
  • Use real pots, pans, or instruments if you have them -- the contrast is easier to hear with real sound.
Talk about it:
  • What is the difference between loud/soft and high/low?
  • Can you make a sound that is soft and high at the same time?
  • What is one loud, low sound you know?

Mastery looks like: They correctly sort sounds by both loudness and pitch, and can explain that these are two separate properties.

Common stumbles: Treating loud and high as the same idea; only paying attention to one property at a time.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
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