1.3 The sense of hearing

NATURAL SCIENCES

Grade 4

Life and way of living

Module 4

The sense of hearing

Activity: to learn more about the sense of hearing [lo 2.1]

Listen to the tape recording that your educator will play and try to distinguish the different sounds. Your hearing enables you to hear wonderful sounds, like the sound of music, even a pin that is dropped, and a cannon being fired. It will also warn you when a car hooter is sounded behind you.

Your ears are more than two flaps at the side of your head.

The rest is inside your head where it is protected by the hard skull. The outer part catches the sound waves that come on the air and directs them with the air into the ear. Inside the ear, the sound waves are converted into messages that are taken to the brain by nerves. Your clever brain then tells you what you are hearing. The brain also sorts out all the sounds that you hear.

Find out why you have two ears.

Find out what deaf people do to improve their lives. See if you are able to use finger language by using the code illustrated below.

Many animals turn their ears to determine the direction of the sounds they hear. This means that they do not have to turn their heads. If they had to turn their heads, their enemies would detect them by their movements.

Sound waves can move through water more easily than light waves, therefore dolphins rely on hearing rather that on trying to see their enemies in the deep, dark water of the sea.

Assessment

LEARNING OUTCOME 2: CONSTRUCTING SCIENCE KNOWLEDGEThe learner will know and be able to interpret and apply scientific, technological and environmental knowledge.

ASSESSMENT STANDARD 2.1: The learner is able to recall significant information.

Memorandum

Play a recording of a variety of sounds taped by yourself, or one selected from the library.