Students investigate and collaborate to discover the ways that sounds can be measured and influenced in order to create the most safe and pleasant volume levels for listening.

GUIDING QUESTION
When noise becomes too loud, how can it be decreased? What can be done to protect
the ears?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to:
• work together to measure sound levels.
• collect, organize, display, and analyze data about sound levels.
• investigate the effect of wearing ear protection on the attenuation of sound.

OVERVIEW
Sound and noise are all around us. Hearing sounds in order to work and survive in an
environment is beneficial. Sometimes the sounds can become too loud and we need a way to
reduce it to a safer and more pleasant level. In this lesson, young scientists will investigate the effect of using ear protectors to reduce sound levels.

Includes follow-up family activity

Grades 6 – 8