Ideas for Noisemakers to Get the Attention of a Loud Classroom
October 29, 2013 2:03 PM Subscribe
I am a high school biology teacher in Chicago Public Schools. I am trying to find a small, creative noisemaker I can use as a signal to get the class to quiet down so I can give instructions. Some teachers raise their hands - however, this doesn't really work when they are busy peering through microscopes.
posted by thelastpolarbear to Education (43 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
I'd like something that is loud enough to hear, but not annoying. If the volume is adjustable, that's ideal, so it could be really loud for labs but quiet for pulling them out of silent reading.
If you know of noisemakers that have some but not all criteria, please suggest them anyway, since I don't know if I'll be able to find the perfect signal.
Criteria of a Good Attention Signal
- loud but not annoying (volume adjustable preferred)
- creative/clever but not distracting (not a Whoopie cushion, for example)
- small and portable (not on the computer) - this way I can use it no matter where I am in the room
- either totally non-electronic or battery operated, again for portability
Ideally I'd like to find something that has SOMETHING to do with biology or science. For example, the Spanish teacher uses maracas.
I thought it would be cool if I could play some kind of animal sounds, but I don't know of any small, portable noisemakers that would do that... besides those "mooing" cubes that babies can play with. I'm not sure if those are loud enough to work.
Please let me know if you have any ideas!