Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sizing Up Sound

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders are introduced to the concepts of sound waves and frequency. As a class, they listen to the differences between different types of instruments. To end the lesson, they practice identifying low and high pitches and playing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sounds Like Science - Guitars

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students discover that all movement produces sound waves but not all sounds can be heard with the human ear. They experiment with a variety of substances to see which are audible and which are inaudible.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observing Sound

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders study the five senses and the link between pictures and sound.  For this sound lesson students discover that sound is vibration, it is described by volume and pitch.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 3-Explore/Explain Do You Hear What I Hear?

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore how loudness is measured. They identify the decibel scale and explain the amplitude of the sound wave.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tuned in: Tuning Forks and Sine waves

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students explore the characteristics of a pure sound wave produced by a tuning fork. They use sine waves to find a curve to fit the sound wave data produced by the tuning fork. A CBL and microphone is required for this activity.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Case of the Electrical Mystery

For Students 7th - 9th
In this electrical mystery worksheet, students watch a television broadcast called "The Case of the Electrical Mystery". They answer 8 questions about how detectives solve problems presented in the segments. Topics include hypothesizing,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pitch

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the concept of pitch and how it can be changed in its duration and frequency. They use rubber bands and cardboard to demonstrate different sound patterns. Students are asked to recognize how vibration varies...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Energy of Music

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover how engineers use sound energy. They participate in hands-on activities in which they discover how we know sound exists. They identify different pitches and frequencies as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vocal Exploration

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore vocal anatomy. In this biology/music lesson, students first learn vocabulary associated with the voice and body. They then use straws, microphones and recorders to differentiate between high and low pitches and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

2nd Grade Physical Sciences

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders complete activities to measure motion and learn about the Earth's history. In this motion and Earth history lesson, 2nd graders discuss sound and complete a matching sound activity. Students then study the history of Earth...
Interactive
Curated OER

Design Project: Audio Tone Control

For Students 10th - Higher Ed
For this electrical circuit worksheet, students answer a series of 4 open-ended questions with schematics about audio control in stereos. This worksheet can be printed and the answers are available on-line.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Echolocation and Communication

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students participate in a role-play activity to determine how whales use the properties of echolocation to communicate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Human Ear

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the human ear. In this biology lesson plan, students develop a better understanding of the various parts of the human ear as they explore a hands-on apparatus.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Design Project: Signal Generator

For Students 11th - Higher Ed
In this physics instructional activity, students design and build a signal generator. They write a lab report and answer 4 short answer questions about their design.
Worksheet
Curated OER

How Big is Big?

For Students 2nd - 4th
The blue whale is the focus of this life science worksheet. Students read an excellent selection on the blue whale, and answer ten comprehension questions. Then, students are divided into two groups. Each group has to estimate how big 85...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Pitch and Frequency

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
To further their understanding of sound energy, students identify the different pitches and frequencies created by a vibrating ruler and a straw kazoo. They create high- and low-pitch sound waves.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Pipes of Pan

For Students 9th - 10th
An experiment to create a device using cardboard tubes that will separate a mixture of sounds in a background into their different frequencies, from low to high depending on the tube length.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Energy of Music

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to sound energy concepts and how engineers use sound energy. Through hands-on activities and demonstrations, students examine how we know sound exists by listening to and seeing sound waves. They learn to describe...