Number

Activity label

1

L1: Thinking About Sound

Students brainstorm types of sounds and ways to make sounds, then write questions about sound.

2

L1: Tuning Forks

They describe sounds made by two different-sized tuning forks and notice how they feel when producing sound.

3

L1: Final Activity

Students classify the sounds they listed at the beginning of the lesson.

4

L2: How Sound Travels

Students are challenged to figure out "how sound gets from place to place" using tuning forks and meter sticks, aluminum foil and string. They are asked "Which materials do you find that the sound travels through best (resulting in the loudest sound)? Students report on their findings.

5

L3: Making Sounds with Nails

Students predict and then test the sounds made by three different sized nails. They use their own words to describe the differences.

6

L3: Final Activities

The term "pitch" is introduced to mean high or low. Students are asked to relate the size of the nails, and the size of the tuning forks from earlier activities, to the pitch of their sound.

7

L4: Making Sound with Rulers

Students vary the length of a ruler and describe the sound it produces (after making predictions). They connect the vibrations of the ruler to sound pitch.

8

L4: Reading

Students read and discuss "The Elephant's Rumble."

9

L5: Exploring Pitch

Continue using the ruler to relate pitch to number of speed of vibrations.

10

L5: Final Activities

Students compare findings across groups. Students reflect on all data collected so far in unit.

11

L6: Vibrations We Can't See

Students experiment with a slide whistle to relate "length of column of vibrating air" to pitch. They begin by predicting, then create a graph of length vs. pitch.

12

L6: Reading

Reading: "Wind Instruments Around the World"

13

L7: Designing a Reed Instrument

An "embedded assessment" to apply what students learned in L6 to design and construct a drinking straw reed instrument that will make at least four different pitches.

14

L7: Final Activities

Students share in groups. They discuss how they might demonstrate their instruments and how they work to the class, then each group demonstrates.

15

L8: Making a Model Eardrum

Students investigate how sounds can cause vibrations in other objects, by building a "model eardrum" from a sheet of rubber stretched over a plastic cup. They place salt or bits of paper on the membrane and use a noisemaker to make the objects "jump."

16

L8: Reading

"Protecting Our Hearing." Includes a diagram of the ear.

17

L9: Making Sound with Strings

Students use string and a "string holder" (plastic cup) to make various sounds and relate length to pitch and the string's vibration.

18

L9: Final Activities

Students write and draw "how strings make sound," then share with class. They pose any questions they have about sounds and strings.

19

Teacher Caution

Teachers are cautioned that students confuse pitch and volume: "the need to differentiate between pitch and volume is likely to arise in these lessons (L9 - L13).

20

L10: Changing Pitch by Changing Tension

Students build a device with a pegboard that allows them to adjust the tension in fishing line. They are told to change the tension and record the difference in pitch. They share their findings.

21

L11: Tuning a Stringed Instrument

Students change both the length and tension of the strings on their "harp" from L10. They are asked how they might produce a high pitch from a long string.

22

L12: How Do Different Strings Sound?

Students use different thicknesses of fishing line on their pegboards to make different pitches. They have to control the amount of tension in each string.

23

L13: Making Louder Sounds from Strings

Students add a bridge and soundboard to make louder sounds.

24

L14: Making Sounds with Air and Strings: The Human Vocal Cords

Rubber bands stretched around a plastic cup and a straw are used as sound-makers, representing vocal cords. Students feel each other's vocal cords during speech.

25

L14: Reading

"Making Sounds with Our Vocal Cords" includes a diagram of the voice box, voice cords, windpipe and lungs.

26

L15: What Have We Learned About Sound?

Students design a musical instrument or other device to show what they have learned.

27

L16: Sharing What We Have Learned

Second part of L15 -- students construct their instruments and make presentations.