Sound Effects
I think sound effects can used with great success in the classroom. They're usually rather short and almost always attention getting.
Here are just a few of the effects I've used.
Large gong
(18 seconds)
Click to listen
Mysterious
(19 seconds)
Click to listen
Morse Code
(33 seconds)
Click to listen
I'm thinking the Morse Code piece would be a great one to play as you're about to make an announcement about something. Especially an announcement from the office.
Mr. Morris
With memo in hand and the Morse Code sound effect playing in the background:
This just in...
For the past ten years or so we've sold a really nice train whistle in our online store. Unfortunately, the family in Arkansas who made them for us went out of business.
I contacted two or three other companies who make them, asked for a sample, and received a number of pale imitations of the original one.
Bottom line: We had to pull the item from the product list. Bummer.
What I can offer in its place is a sound effect that mimics the sound of an old steam engine. Although it's not quite as nice as having the train whistle in your hand, it does get the job done.
Train Whistle
(11 seconds)
Click to listen
Note: Download Instructions will explain how to get the sound file onto your computer.
Free MP3 Downloads from Amazon
To find free music, go to the Amazon.com web site and type "free mp3" in their search engine. You'll be shown dozens of free albums that you'll be able to download. And although you need to sign up for their Amazon download app, it's easy to do and then runs automatically. Very slick.
Note: They're easier to find if you set the "Sort by" drop-down menu to Price: Low to High. That's because they include mp3 albums in the search results that aren't free.
Here's a nice one: The Best of the Most Relaxing Classical Music
Reality: It was free when I found it but the last time I checked is was selling for $7.99. The lesson here? Check frequently.
