What are bells?

Bells are loud, fun things that make noise when you hit them or shake them.

Imagine you have a big metal cup, and it's empty. If you tap it with your finger or knock it against something else, it makes a ding sound. That’s what bells do, they’re like big, strong cups made of metal, and when you hit them, they ring out a loud noise that can be heard from far away.

Bells are usually shaped like a bowl or a circle, and they're hung up so they can swing freely. When someone hits the bell with a stick or a small hammer, called a clapper, it makes the whole bell shake. The shaking causes the metal to vibrate, which creates sound waves that travel through the air.

You might have seen bells at school, like the ones that ring when it's time for lunch or recess. Or maybe you've heard church bells ringing on special days, they’re big and can be heard all over town! Bells are used everywhere to signal something important: it’s a loud way of saying “Hey, everyone, look at me!”