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Soundscapes

Activity

Mapping with Sound

Map the sounds of a location. Go with a group to a spot where you can spread out with at least ten feet between everyone. Blindfold each person and have them sit still and listen silently for 2-5 minutes. Then without looking around, have each person draw the area based on what they heard. Was there a bird high up (so there’s probably a tree)? Was there traffic nearby (so there is probably a road)? Do you hear the babbling of a creek? Compare your maps.

Science Seed

Sound mapping helps us slow down and tune in to our sense of hearing to notice the world around us. Noticing the different noises you hear, like birds chirping, traffic sounds, or water flowing can tell you where physical features of the landscape are located. Each sound comes from a specific source—birds frequently call from trees, traffic noises come from roads, and water trickling might come from a creek. By drawing or marking where you think these sounds come from on a map, you are creating an artistic representation based on auditory clues. You can use words or symbols to describe the noises you hear, helping you understand and record the environment around you. Comparing your sound maps with others can show how different people process the same sounds in different ways!

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore the Memorial Park Conservancy

The mission of Memorial Park Conservancy is to preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

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