This is what Bouncy Balls looks like when the classroom is silent:
This is what Bouncy Balls looks like when the classroom is noisy:
Essentially, Bouncy Balls is a website that activates your microphone and detects noise level. The more noise in the room, the more the balls bounce. The quieter the room is, the more still the balls remain. Although this tool has a number of applications outside of classroom management, I thought it was a fun, engaging way to monitor noise levels. Ask students to try to keep the balls as still as possible during class, and maybe reward them by allowing them to sing and be noisy on their way out of class 
I love this tool! My middle schoolers tend to get noisy (especially my afternoon classes) so this fun visual would be a stellar way to keep them in check. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you found it useful Lauren, let me know how your students like it!
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I’m having trouble…can you help? When I go to the website, and click “Get Bouncing!”, I get a black page with no balls. Any ideas on what I’m doing wrong?
Hi Nicole, I’m sorry to hear that is happening. It is probably because you don’t have the latest version of Flash or because of the browser you are using. Try switching to a different browser?
When I click on the microphone all the balls bounce but I don’t know how to set it to monitor the classroom noise.
I would love to use this resource in my classroom, but I’m concerned that I have to allow microphone access for it to work. Is this a privacy issue?
Good question Mary! The microphone access essentially means allowing the program to hear you. Without the microphone access, the program wouldn’t be able to gauge classroom noise. Once you exit the website, the program no longer has access to your microphone – so it isn’t a privacy issue
Yes, but while it’s on is there a place that our conversations are being recorded or saved in some way?
No, the conversations are not recorded or saved. It simply uses the microphone in order to gauge noise level.
Thank you so much! Can’t wait to try it!
The link in the blog didn’t work, it must have been moved.
Hi Cindy, thanks for sharing that – I updated all the links.
This sounds like a great idea, but unfortunately the website is blocked in my district. Is there anything else like this, or is there a way to download it and run it without going to the website?
Unfortunately, I don’t think you can download it. Maybe you could check with your admin and see if they could unlock the site? Or you could try loading it outside of school and then playing it when you get there.
How do I get the bouncy balls on my computer?
Hi Sarabeth. The website is linked in the post above – just click to access Bouncy Balls. Unfortunately if you are asking whether you can download the program, unfortunately that’s not possible.