C2.5: Explain how vibrations cause sound waves. (an early start on Grade 4)

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 C2.5

• 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.