DIY Stethoscope!

I'm pretty sure I've said this in a previous post, but for pre-school at home this year, Chloe will be learning about the 5 senses, and these first 6 weeks are focusing on the ear and sense of hearing. That said, I just had to share the craft we did today.

We made our own stethoscope, and here's the kicker: IT ACTUALLY WORKED! Obviously not to the quality of an actual stethoscope, but it magnified the sound of the heart! It's super easy to make, too.

All you need:
~Funnel with a flat top (I found mine in the auto parts section of Walmart)
~Paper towel roll (I'm sure a toilet paper roll would work just as well. You just have to be careful on how long the tip of your funnel is)
~Duct tape

The picture is pretty self explanatory of how it's put together. You only have to stick the paper towel/toilet paper roll onto the end of the funnel and tape it. I let Chloe "decorate" it, but the real fun was using it. Place the funnel end flat against the chest (this is why you need a flat-topped funnel) and listen through the paper towel end.

We compared the sound of each others heart before and after running in place, and also the sound with and without using our stethoscope. A craft like this, though, could be a fun teaching tool for all sorts of lessons (the heart, exercise, doctors, ect.).

Hope you enjoy!

Source