Script: Hello, scientists and welcome to Ingenia’s Acoustics Test Lab. At this lab, acousticians, scientists who study sound, run many different experiments and tests to learn about the science of sound. Have you heard the word acoustics before? What do you think it means? Wait for student response. You may have heard the word acoustics in context related to a building or space. Like how people say that bathrooms have great acoustics. What they are talking about are the properties of sound and how sound travels in that space. What other spaces or buildings do you know of that have good acoustics? Wait for student response. What about those spaces do you think makes them good spaces for sound? Wait for student response.
We’re glad to have you here with us as apprentice Acousticians at the Acoustics Test Lab. Today, you’ll learn all about sound and how sound travels. What do you already know about sound? Wait for student response.
Script: We can hear sounds because sounds vibrate and travel in waves. When that vibration reaches our eardrums, the vibration transfers a signal to our brains resulting in a sound we can hear. To learn more, let’s watch this video.
10 min Watch: Pause the video at the 8:05 minute mark (Note: you will need to create a free account to watch)
Generation Genius: Wave Properties (www.generationgenius.com)
5 min Discuss:
Students will rotate through various centers that provide opportunities to explore sound and sound waves.
5 min Script: We’ve been learning about how sound travels via waves, or repeated patterns of pressure moving through air or other material. Think about the sounds you hear in everyday life, like your morning alarm, your favorite song, or the school bell. Can you see these sound waves? No, we don’t see these sound waves. Typically, we can’t observe sound waves, but there are experiments we can do to help us visualize and observe sound waves. Today, you’ll rotate through four different Sound Wave Centers. You’ll move through the centers with a partner. Each center will have a total of 6 students at it.
10 min: Demonstrate how students will engage in each center:
Metal: Try both experiments.
Water:
Instruments:
Music Making:
40 min Assign partners and dismiss students to the centers. Every ~10 minutes, rotate groups to the next center.
10 min Upon completion, lead a whole group discussion about the Sound Wave Centers. Ask the following questions:
Lead students in a whole group activity where they act out how sound travels when you’re jamming out to music in a car.
NOTE: This activity involves physical contact. Talk through the rules and expectations of safe, kind, and fun physical contact as a class before engaging in the activity.
TIP: You can have students create or print out images to attach to themselves representing their role.
*Mystery Science offers a similar activity with further instructions here: https://mysteryscience.com/waves/mystery-2/sound-vibrations/51#slide-id-1894
5 min Discuss:
5 min Watch: Mystery Science: Sound Vibration (mysteryscience.com)
5 min Discuss:
Have students continue exploring the Blob Opera and Assisted Melody interactives:
Have students record their responses to the following questions:
