Tune into the physics of sound and music with a hands-on activity that lets students analyze the behavior of soundwaves.

GUIDING QUESTION
What makes a sound? What makes sounds louder, softer, higher or lower?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to:
• conduct a series of demonstrations that illustrate properties of sound.
• describe the movement of sound waves through various mediums and how different
sounds produce different waves.
• design a musical instrument that produces at least two different pitches.

OVERVIEW
Sound and music are important parts of our everyday sensory experience. But how often do
we think about behaviors of sound or how it is produced, reproduced and detected? The
basis for an understanding of sound, music, and hearing is the physics of waves. In this lesson,
students will conduct a series of demonstrations that illustrate the science behind how sound
is made and heard. The lesson culminates with students designing a musical instrument that
can play at least two different pitches.

Grades 3 – 5