Echolocation, nature's sonar, helps dolphins, bats and whales to navigate their worlds by listening for echoes. They "see" with their ears by producing clicking sounds and interpreting the echo. Instruct students to use their ears rather than their eyes to experience what it may be like to use nature's sonar. Divide the classroom into teams of two. Instruct each team to take one blindfold, pencil, marker, eraser and a chart activity sheet and spread out throughout the room. Instruct teams to blindfold one team member. Instruct teams to drop the items, one by one, either on the floor or on a table, at varying distances from the blindfolded individual. The blindfolded individual guesses the items and distances dropped.
Sonar devices find fish within water by interpreting sound waves bouncing back through water. Explain to students how sound is a form of energy traveling in waves. Express how sound waves do not travel as fast in water as in solids. Demonstrate sound waves interactively to your class by using your SMART Board Notebook. SMART Exchange offers free sound wave Notebook lessons for teachers, including practice problems and introductions into the different types of waves and their properties; longitudinal, transverse, electromagnetic, surface and mechanical.
Blindfold one student and instruct her to sit on the floor in the center of the other students as they sit in two rows; one in close proximity to her and one far away. Instruct one student to clearly say her name. Allow the blindfolded student to guess the voice of the student who said her name and to guess if that student is in the far away row or the close row. If she guesses correctly, she gets a point and another student says her name. Each student receives a specific amount of time decided by the teacher to earn as many points as possible.
This entertaining game requires a marshmallow shooter and marshmallows. The shooter can be purchased at many stores that sell water shooters and games. Draw a target on a chalkboard or poster. Instruct one person to stand on each side of the target and give him one each of identical items, such as bells, whistles or clappers. Ask remaining students to line up in a single-file line. Give the first person the marshmallow shooter. Blindfold him and spin him around slowly. Indicate to the students beside the target when to begin. The shooter must follow the sound and shoot at the target with the marshmallow, with only the sound being the guide.