World Hearing Day: Engaging Tech Resources for the Classroom
Every year on March 3rd, World Hearing Day raises awareness about hearing loss prevention and ear care. With the increasing use of headphones, earbuds, and exposure to loud environments, teaching students about safe listening habits has never been more important.
“1 in 5 teenagers in the United States suffers from Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) by the age of 19.”
Most teens are unaware of it because Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is typically painless and develops gradually over many years. While this type of hearing loss is both progressive and permanent, it is also 100% preventable, as explained by the Ear Peace Foundation, an educational nonprofit whose mission is to educate young people about NIHL and its simple prevention.
As educators, we can use World Hearing Day to help students understand how everyday sounds impact their hearing and encourage them to protect their ears for life. To make this fun and interactive, I’ve gathered some engaging tech tools and classroom resources to bring World Hearing Day to life for your students!
Tech Tools & Resources for World Hearing Day
👂 HearO Saves the Day!
This educational adventure book for 4-8-year-olds provides a captivating storyline about a group of young friends who band together with a SuperHearO to save a little girl’s hearing from the danger of loud sound. Along the way, they also learn about ear anatomy, how sound is processed, and the four specific ways to protect their hearing. Free companion lessons that meet STE(A)M standards are free for use with HearO Saves the Day! Modules on Exploring Sound and Sound Safety include lesson plans, two sets of presentation slides, and interactive question sets for use on educational gaming platforms, including Kahoot, Blooket, and GimKit.
Search for these question sets to play the games and reinforce the message!
⭐️ Sound Safety Scenarios: HearO Saves the Day
⭐️ Book Study: HearO Saves the Day
And be sure to get a copy of the book for your classroom! And free lesson plans to complement the book!
📱 NIOSH Sound Level Meter App
Take your students on a sound scavenger hunt with the NIOSH Sound Level Meter App! This free app from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) turns your phone into a sound decibel meter, helping students visualize noise levels and discuss safe listening volumes.
Get the NIOSH Sound Level Meter App on any iOS device.
🔵 Bouncy Balls – Visual Noise Monitor
This interactive tool uses bouncing balls to visually represent classroom noise levels, helping students become more aware of their surroundings. It’s great for short awareness activities but can become distracting if used for too long.
Keep in mind that your computer's microphone will pick up the nearest sounds, so for a more accurate reflection of the overall noise level, place your computer in the center of the room.
🎧 Safe Listening Kahoot (by WHO)
The World Health Organization (WHO) created this interactive Kahoot game to teach students about ear care, safe listening habits, and hearing loss prevention. It’s an easy and engaging way to start conversations about why protecting our ears matters!
Get more the PDF from WHO for more information.
🎙️ Science for Kids: Measuring Sound (Operation Ouch!)
This YouTube video from Operation Ouch! challenges students to discover who hears better—teachers or students!
It’s a great way to spark curiosity about how we hear and why sound safety matters. Watch it here.
📍 SoundPrint App – Mapping Noise Levels
This app maps sound levels in real-world locations, allowing students to explore and identify the loudest environments while discussing their impact on hearing. It’s an engaging way to connect science with everyday life and empower students to make informed choices about protecting their hearing.
Available in the App Store or Google Play Store.
Tips for Educators on Managing Sound Volume in the Classroom
1️⃣ Model Safe Listening Habits – Keep your own volume at a safe level when using speakers, headphones, or classroom microphones. Demonstrating healthy habits encourages students to do the same.
2️⃣ Use the 60/60 Rule – Encourage students to listen at no more than 60% volume for no longer than 60 minutes at a time when using headphones. This helps prevent gradual hearing damage.
3️⃣ Monitor Classroom Noise Levels – Use tools like the NIOSH Sound Level Meter App or Bouncy Balls to raise awareness of how loud the classroom can get and encourage students to regulate their noise levels.
4️⃣ Choose Volume-Limiting Headphones – When selecting headphones for classroom use, look for models with built-in volume limiters that cap sound at 85 decibels or lower, like these headphones.
5️⃣ Create Quiet Zones – Designate areas in the classroom where students can work without excessive noise exposure, helping them rest their ears throughout the day.
Bringing Awareness to Safe Listening
By incorporating these fun, interactive tools into your lesson plans, you can help students understand how to protect their hearing in an engaging way. Whether you’re using apps, games, or real-world experiments, World Hearing Day is the perfect opportunity to teach lifelong habits that promote healthy ears and safe listening.
How will you celebrate World Hearing Day in your classroom? 🎧👂 Share with us in the Every Teacher Tech Ready Facebook Group!
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