Eavesdropping made easy

There is high-tech equipment that can help you eavesdrop on people. But you can also keep things simple. Make your own eavesdropping device and listen secretly from a distance to the conversations of your neighbours, your teacher, or members of your family.

A paper plate holding a snake on which a circle is drawn around it.

Step 1

Draw an outline of the opening of the washing machine hose in the middle of the paper plate and cut it out.

Step 2

Working in from the edge of the plate, cut a line to the circle in the middle. Fold the plate in the form of a dish and glue it together.

Two boys push washing machine hoses through paper plates

Step 3

Feed the washing machine hose through the hole.

A boy sits on the floor and holds a tube to his ear.

Step 4

Put the eavesdropping device in a place where it can’t be seen and make sure that you are out of sight too. Put the hose to your ear and listen. If you can’t hear very much, try making the hose a little shorter.

What did you discover?

The listening device can pick up sound waves really well – better than your ear. The sound is carried through the hose to your ear, which helps you listen in on what people are saying.