Investigating Sound: Vibrations are the Source of Sound
Summary
In this classroom activity, students will discover that when objects vibrate a sound is produced. Students will first observe different sound sources such as a music box, a sucker toy that has a stick coming out of it, etc. They will then list their observations and come up with an answer to the question "How is sound made?" Groups will then come up with ways to test their conclusion to how sound is made and share with the class. As a class, we will conclude that vibrations cause sound and that a sound source is an object that is vibrating and a sound receiver is what detects sound vibrations.
CollapseLearning Goals
This activity is designed for students to understand that vibration is the source of sound. They will discover this through observation and questioning, as well as by testing their own conclusions as to how sound is produced. They will be introduced to the following vocabulary: vibration, sound source, and sound receiver.
Context for Use
This lesson is intended for 3rd or 4th grade, whole class divided into smaller groups (3-4 per group), and is a one day activity; approximately 1 hour. Depending on what you have available you could use a music box, tuning fork and beaker with water in it, wine glass, different toys that produce sound, and items from the FOSS Sound Kit. This lesson would come after the "Dropping In" FOSS lesson, which has students dropping in objects behind a chamber and trying to decipher what made the sound.
Description and Teaching Materials
Students will observe the Long Gong and the Tuning Fork hit against a block of wood. They will record in their science notebook what they observed. Discuss their observations and ask what it tells us. Students will then pass centers around and they will record their observations again. They will be trying to determine the answer to "How is sound made?" After they have had all of the centers and made their observations, they will make a conclusion. Discuss as a class the conclusions and then they must come up with a way to test it. Share with the class.
1. Demonstrate the Long Gong and the Tuning Fork and wooden block from the FOSS Kit. (5 min.)
2. Each group tries them out and writes observations in their science notebook. (15 min.)
3. Discuss as a class what they observed. Together come up with the question "How is sound produced?" (10 min.)
4. In groups of 3 or 4, students experiment with different sound producers such as a music box, a wine glass with water in it, a tuning fork that is hit against your shoe and then put near a glass with water, a record player with a record and no arm (instead use a piece of paper that is rolled into a cone with a pin in the end), a spoon that is attached to a string and the end of the string is wrapped around your finger and you put that finger in your ear and then bang the spoon against a desk, and a sucker that is attached to a stick that when you turn it on it vibrates (you hold the stick between your teeth) They record what they hear, see, and feel in their science notebooks. (15 min.)
5. From the groups observations they conclude as to how sound is made. They write their answer on a white board and show other groups. Groups can change their answer if another group's sound better.
6. Discuss as a group that sound is caused by vibrations and that a sound producer is an object that is vibrating and that a sound receiver detects sound vibrations. Come up with real life sound producers and receivers (5 min.)
7. Have half of the groups come up with a different way to show that sound is caused by vibrations and the other half test if you can make a sound without vibration. Have a variety of different materials out for them to experiment with these. (15-20 min.)
1. Demonstrate the Long Gong and the Tuning Fork and wooden block from the FOSS Kit. (5 min.)
2. Each group tries them out and writes observations in their science notebook. (15 min.)
3. Discuss as a class what they observed. Together come up with the question "How is sound produced?" (10 min.)
4. In groups of 3 or 4, students experiment with different sound producers such as a music box, a wine glass with water in it, a tuning fork that is hit against your shoe and then put near a glass with water, a record player with a record and no arm (instead use a piece of paper that is rolled into a cone with a pin in the end), a spoon that is attached to a string and the end of the string is wrapped around your finger and you put that finger in your ear and then bang the spoon against a desk, and a sucker that is attached to a stick that when you turn it on it vibrates (you hold the stick between your teeth) They record what they hear, see, and feel in their science notebooks. (15 min.)
5. From the groups observations they conclude as to how sound is made. They write their answer on a white board and show other groups. Groups can change their answer if another group's sound better.
6. Discuss as a group that sound is caused by vibrations and that a sound producer is an object that is vibrating and that a sound receiver detects sound vibrations. Come up with real life sound producers and receivers (5 min.)
7. Have half of the groups come up with a different way to show that sound is caused by vibrations and the other half test if you can make a sound without vibration. Have a variety of different materials out for them to experiment with these. (15-20 min.)
Teaching Notes and Tips
Make sure you have set the tone as to acceptable behavior during the experimental times. Also keep the stations rotating through at an even time frame, enough time for them to write down a few observations. Know that there will be noise. ☺
Assessment
I will be looking at their science notebooks to see how they do with making observations. I will also assess if they understand that sound is caused by vibrations by looking at how the group can come up with a different way to show that sound is caused by vibrations and that sound cannot be produced unless there are vibrations.
Standards
3.II.C The students will investigate how sounds are made when objects vibrate.