Infographic showing other ways to use the Now Press Play equipment.

A free silent disco playlist, and 9 creative ways to use wireless headphones in the classroom

Every teacher wants their lessons to be memorable. You want the children you teach to remember not just what they learned, but how they learned it. Fortunately, new technologies such as wireless headphones make it straightforward to inspire, engage and excite your pupils. From creating a silent disco playlist to scavenger hunts, there are several creative ways to headphones can be used in schools.

To help you find inspiration, here are nine creative ways that teachers already use now>press>play’s wireless headphones in schools, plus a free silent disco playlist for an instant end-of-term party.

Free silent disco playlist for schools

Why not celebrate the end of a topic, birthdays, or any other special event with a class silent disco? Using our pink headphones and free playlist below, you can give your students an immersive party like no other — without any noise complaints from the class next door.

We know that teachers enjoy using our headphones just as much as children. So why not keep the party going long after home time and throw an unforgettable staff party too?

now>press>play’s free silent disco playlist for schools:

9 creative ways to use wireless headphones in the classroom

1. Audiobooks & guided reading

Audiobooks are a great way to engage children with reading, helping increase word exposure, improve vocabulary and teach pronunciation. As well as this, they can remove barriers and inspire a love of stories in children who struggle to decode written words. By playing audiobooks through our pink headphones, you can minimise distractions and help children at any reading level improve their comprehension.

For a great list of places to find free audiobooks for kids, check out this article from Waterford.

2. Motivational music for sport

Help your pupils unleash their inner Rocky Balboa with some motivational music during their PE or Daily Mile fitness sessions. Music fuels the brain, enhances physical endurance, and can help with motor coordination, making it a perfect accompaniment to healthy exercise.

What’s more, schools are able to use PE and sports premium funding to pay for now>press>play. This makes our wireless headphones a cost-effective way to motivate and boost your class’ fitness.

A group of children running in their school field while using Now Press Play

3. Sound stimuli for “Big Writes”

Using headphones to play sound stimuli for poetry and creative writing sessions is a great way of setting the desired mood and can generate curiosity and anticipation, encourage focus and stimulate discussion. This can also help engage reluctant or less confident writers. What’s more, by using now>press>play’s headphones, your pupils can adjust the volume of the music and choose whether they want to listen or work in silence.

Ambient Mixer is a fantastic source for free soundscapes, offering hundreds of sound stimuli for any genre of writing. 

4. Develop language and communication through music

Nursery rhymes and songs can help develop children’s language and communication skills from an early age. By sharing songs full of rhyming, rhythm and repetition, you can help boost children’s development and help them learn about different beats and rhythms. The Cocomelon YouTube channel has songs and videos for every popular nursery rhyme, providing a comprehensive free resource for EYFS and early KS1 teachers.

For older learners, some schools use our headphones during music lessons to help children focus as they learn to play instruments like the xylophone or percussion.

5. Create moments for mindfulness

Having just a few minutes of quiet time each day can give students (and teachers) a sense of calm and peace of mind that benefits emotional and physical health, improves wellbeing, and develops empathy.

Many schools carve out 10-15 minutes in the school day for “quiet time.” By using our headphones as part of their reflection or rest time, pupils can control their own volume and focus their minds. This can be particularly effective for SEND children with sensory difficulties.

For more information about teaching wellbeing, read our blog on how to create valuable discussions around mental health in schools.

A young school child closing her eyes while using Now Press Play. She's listening through pink headphones.

6. Watch videos & documentaries

Using headphones to watch videos and documentaries can enhance children’s focus and retention of key information, just as listening to audiobooks can improve reading comprehension. BBC Teach offers hundreds of free curriculum-mapped videos for primary school learners of all ages.

Our headphones can be used for both whole-class watching or independent research projects, letting pupils work with minimal distraction. Simply plug our transmitter into your class computer or allow children to connect them directly to an iPad or other device.

7. School radio & podcasts

Podcasts and school radio can be an easy way of engaging students in a topic, providing a perfect opportunity to learn through listening. BBC School Radio provide free audio resources on topics across the EYFS, KS1 and KS2 curriculum.

You could even encourage your children to create their own podcast by using a simple app such as Opinion Podcasting to share with peers or younger classes. Older students often record their own audio to play for younger children through our headphones, including stories, plays and more. This can help to encourage older learners to write for a purpose, as well as inspiring younger pupils to be creative themselves.

Three children use Now Press Play. Two have pink headphones around their necks, and once is showing another how to adjust the headphones.

8. Make a scavenger hunt for your class

Scavenger hunts are a brilliant way to develop children’s investigative, orienteering, teamwork and listening skills. With now>press>play, you can enhance this activity for maximum learning fun.

Our powerful transmitter has a range of 300 metres, and our pink headphones are completely wireless. This means you could create a scavenger hunt anywhere inside or outside your school. Give instructions to your class by connecting an iPad or tablet to your transmitter, and let them do the rest!

For further inspiration, try this super article from Teaching Expertise with 40 ideas for themed school scavenger hunts.

9. An audio art tour of school for parents

Show off your pupils’ artwork in the best way possible — by turning your school into an art gallery. Encourage parental engagement by creating an audio guide to the artwork around the school and inviting them along for a museum-style tour, complete with our pink headphones.

You can give your pupils the opportunity to record themselves talking about their work, helping them develop their self-expression, confidence and critical thinking skills.

A child makes art using paper, pencils, and other art implements.

For more great tips on other ways to use our equipment, watch this great video from Martin Bailey:

We always love hearing about the imaginative new ways schools are using now>press>play. Please share your creative uses of the pink headphones with us through our social media channels:

now>press>play is an immersive resource that helps children love learning by engaging them in the curriculum through sound, story and movement. If you’d like to try out our equipment in your school, please get in touch to arrange your free two-week trial.

Infographic showing other ways to use the Now Press Play equipment.