Students in the grades 2&3 classes have been exploring these questions in the classroom. Students came up with noise level charts, and have been tracking their noise level at various times of day. Students agree upon the desired noise level before beginning a working time. If the noise exceeds the agreed upon level, students are invited to write their initials next to the level they hear.
Some students have been surprised by the noise levels their peers perceive! They thought they were whispering, but their classmates heard "normal indoor voice" levels. This has been a great way to help students become more aware of their own volume.
"Some people may be talking too loud and they don’t notice," points out one third grade student.
"We like peace and quiet and we usually either whisper or talk low when we work together," one pair shared.
On the other hand, sometimes students are encouraged to speak in a louder voice so that all their classmates can hear them. In the Mountains room, a class goal is for everyone to speak in a "Level 3 voice" when sharing during meetings and class discussions.
How do you manage noise levels at home? What would your child say is the right volume for the dinner table? Playing in the living room? Riding public transportation? We hope our noise level experiment will help children become more aware at home as well as at school!