Teaching Materials

A mother and daughter stand before an ipad displaying spectrograms and play Guess That Sound, an educational game.
Mother and daughter test their skills in identifying sounds in Guess That Sound, an educational listening game.

Julie West / NPS

The following sound activities and resources used in parks can help teachers educate students of all ages on soundscapes. For introductory materials on the Natural Sounds Program, visit our Additional Information page.

Soundscape Activities

Soundscape Curriculum

Soundscape Interpretive Programs Used in Parks

Young Sound Seekers - A Unique Partnership

Established by Atlantic Center for the Arts, Stetson University, and Conklin Davis Center for Visually Impaired, Young Sound Seekers lessons offer listening activities that teach the value of conserving the natural soundscape―for human wellness, as well as for wildlife communication and habitat health. The Young Sound Seekers program began as an environmental arts program for blind and partially sighted youth in Central Florida, and quickly grew into a universally designed soundscape education curriculum to be shared with everyone, including NPS units. Through sensory learning, the students involved in Young Sound Seekers hold a deeper understanding of the biodiverse habitat of marine and terrestrial animal species, the cultural history of local lands and the watershed, and how ecology is influenced by sound. This program is made possible by grant support from the National Park Service Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, who mentor our team and offer opportunities to train park interpreters, educators, and scientists about the fascinating field of soundscape ecology.

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Duration:
10 minutes, 12 seconds

Young Sound Seekers began as an environmental arts program for blind and partially sighted youth, where through sensory learning, students gained a deeper understanding of how ecology and cultural landscapes are influenced by sound. This program quickly grew into a universally designed soundscape education curriculum with lessons that offer listening activities that teach the value of conserving the natural soundscape. This program is made possible by support from the Natural Sounds Night Skies Division.

Click below links for three different Lesson Plans
Listen Pair Share
Good Vibes
Echoes from the Past

Teaching Youth through Educational Travel

Through a partnership with No Barriers Youth, the National Park Service Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division is educating a diverse group of youth and educators nationwide in the management and understanding of soundscapes. Through educational activities conducted in classrooms and on expeditions in the Grand Canyon, participants gain an appreciation of natural and cultural resources, a connection to the natural world, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.

Grand Canyon National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, and the Peruvian Amazon are among the places where students have traveled. Each expedition includes sound-related activitIes and experiments aimed at increasing knowledge and understanding of the importance of sound and the acoustical environment in national parks and their everyday lives.

This partnership was awarded the 2012 Partners in Conservation Award by the U.S. Department of the Interior for outstanding achievements in youth stewardship and engagement.

Learn more: No Barriers Youth Lead the Way.

Last updated: June 10, 2024

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