Bouncy Balls
When the class gets loud, put the volume on the big screen. The louder it is, the more the balls bounce. Free in the browser.
Why teachers project Bouncy Balls
Features
Students can see the volume instead of waiting for another reminder to keep it down.
The class can see how loud it is
- Talking over the room is easy to ignore. A screen full of bouncing balls is not. When voices rise, the balls jump harder. Students glance up and ease off without a lecture.
Open it, allow the mic, and go
- No install and no account. Raise sensitivity for silent reading. Lower it for group talk so partner voices do not set the balls off. Match the room you have today, not a default setting.
They notice the volume before you shout
- The picture changes as soon as the room gets louder. That shared signal helps the class keep itself in check, so you spend less time repeating “voices down.”
Project it, turn on the microphone, and let the balls show the volume.
How to use Bouncy Balls in class
Your computer or tablet microphone listens to the room. Louder voices make the balls bounce more. Put it on the projector so everyone can see the same signal.
- 1Open it and allow the microphone
Open Bouncy Balls in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Allow the microphone when the browser asks. Nothing is recorded. You need a working mic on the same device you are projecting.
- 2Set how jumpy the balls are
For silent reading, turn sensitivity up so a whisper still shows. For group work, turn it down so ordinary partner talk is allowed. Recalibrate when the activity changes.
- 3Pick a look, and a too-loud warning if you want one
Plastic balls, emoji, numbers, bubbles, or eyeballs. Optional Quiet! / Too noisy! / Shhhh! alerts. Keep the visual first so you are not adding more sound to a noisy room.
- 4Leave it up during the activity
Put it on the interactive board or projector where the whole class can see it. Use it for independent work, group tasks, or transitions. The point is one shared picture of the volume, not a new rule to explain every period.
- 5Cheer the calm balls, do not punish the loud ones
Notice when the balls settle during quiet work. Make it a class goal to keep them low, then acknowledge it. The tool works better as a game the class plays together than as a gotcha.
- 6Change the setting when the lesson changes
A setting that fits silent reading will be too jumpy for discussion. If a class treats it as a toy, pause, reset the expectation, then turn it back on.
From teachers who project Bouncy Balls
What Teachers Are Saying
How teachers use the bouncing balls to show volume without another reminder.
"I used to repeat “voices down” all period. Now they look at the balls and settle themselves."
"They actually watch the screen. Getting them to keep the volume down feels like a game, not a fight."
"Allow the mic and project. I wish I had this years ago. It is on my board most mornings."
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from teachers using Bouncy Balls
Need more help? Contact us for additional support and resources.
Put the volume on the big screen
Open Bouncy Balls, allow the microphone, and project. Free for teachers.