Recognise that vibrations from sounds travel through a medium to the…
Recognise that vibrations from sounds travel through a medium to the ear. Taught in lesson 2, the string telephone.
The National curriculum in England: science programmes of study, Key Stages 1–3 outcome (Sound) for Year 4 says: “Recognise that vibrations from sounds travel through a medium to the ear. Taught in lesson 2, the string telephone.” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson. Official wording: National curriculum in England: science programmes of study, Key Stages 1–3.
Sound: Can You See a Sound? Grades K–2
Can you see a sound? Young scientists make rice dance on a drum, talk through a string telephone and build a rubber-band guitar to find out that every sound starts with something shaking.
- Can you see a sound? 40–45 min
Children make grains of rice jump on a plastic-wrap drum, pluck rubber bands on a box and twang rulers on the edge of a table. They find out that every sound they make comes from something shaking back and forth very fast.
- Can a string carry your voice? 45 min
Children build cup-and-string telephones and test them with the string tight, loose and pinched, then compare different kinds of string. They find out that a tight string carries the shake of their voice from one cup to the other.
- How do you make a high note or a low note? 45 min
Children build a rubber-band guitar with thick and thin bands and blow across plastic bottles holding different amounts of water. They find out that fast shaking makes a high note and slow shaking makes a low note.
Printable practice for this outcome
These pages practise a closely related idea; the match to this outcome is partial.
- Sound: Can You See a Sound? workbook included with the unit
3 English-support pages, 2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
- Grade 4 Sound: Vibrations, Pitch and Echoes printable pack
3 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 activity, 1 assessment, with answer keys. Free sample.
Need just this outcome? Build a custom pack from these pages, with its answer key, in about a minute. Custom packs come with All-access and school licences.
Compared with NGSS: 1-PS4-1 (partial), 4-PS4-1 (partial).
More England Year 4 science outcomes we teach
Every England Year 4 science curriculum outcome we teach
Every unit matched to England's curriculum · All places and curricula
Three full lessons, free
Make a free account and download any three Fieldbook lessons as printable PDFs. No card needed.