Build Your Own Vocal Chords

See how vocal chords work with rubber bands and a cup.



Materials:

• Two rubber bands
  
• Cup
  
• Straw
  

When you sing a note, your wind-pipe blows air across chords in your throat. The chords vibrate to make a sound. Demonstrate by having child sing a note. Have child touch their own windpipe.



Wrap the two rubber bands around a the cup, close together, not touching. Blow across the bands with the straw. The bands will vibrate and hum like human vocal chords do during singing. Be patient. You may need to vary angle and distance of the straw, or distance between bands.

Talk about how yelling and illness can make chords swell, causing laryngitis. I've effectively used this exercise to get my older toddler to limit her screaming regimen.