Play the Hokey Pokey song and teach children the moves to the song. Children must listen to the song in order to do the correct moves. Another idea is the Kids in Motion creative-movement series. The series contains music with lyrics that tell the students how to move. Kids must listen carefully to the lyrics so they know how to move. This activity also provides exercise for the children. Turn these listening activities into games by awarding prizes to the best listeners.
Have each child select a partner. Blindfold one player in each pair and give the blindfolded partner a soft foam ball. The partners must lead their blindfolded partners around and try to get him to throw the ball at another pair. The blindfolded partner must listen closely for his partner to tell him when and where to throw the ball. When a player hits another player with a ball, that team is out of the game. The last team standing wins. Alternatively, make a large target and have the blindfolded partners toss the ball at the target. His partner must tell him how high or low to toss the ball to score points. The team with the highest number of points wins.
Play a tape of animal noises and have the children guess what animal make the sounds. Alternatively, tape random sounds, such as keys rattling together or a baby crying, on a CD or MP3 player. Play the sounds and have the children try to guess the correct sound. Award a small prize for each correct answer. Another idea is to blindfold the kids and make different sounds like blowing a whistle. The first child to raise their hand and answer correctly wins a prize. For sounds that are more difficult, try biting into an apple, coloring on a sheet of paper and clipping fingernails.
Ask the children to sit in a circle and play a rhyme game. Select one child to go first by saying a word like "ball." The next child must say a word that rhymes with ball -- like "wall." Keep going until someone cannot think of a rhyming word. Turn this activity into a game by eliminating any player who cannot think of a rhyming word. If you cannot think of anymore rhyming words, change the word and have them continue.