Science KS 2 Unit 5F Changing sounds

Through this unit children learn that sounds are produced by vibrations and that these vibrations travel from the source through a variety of materials. Musical instruments are used to illustrate the range of ways of producing sounds and how pitch and loudness can be altered. Experimental and investigative work focuses on:

• turning ideas into a form that can be investigated and making predictions.
• deciding whether the evidence is sufficient to support the prediction.

Work in this unit also offers opportunities for children to use scientific knowledge and understanding about sound to explain familiar phenomena and to relate this to their understanding of musical instruments

This unit takes approximately 12 hours.

OTHER RESOURCES

• selection of musical instruments eg drum, recorder, triangles, xylophone, castanets, stringed instrument
• tuning fork or forks
• clamp to attach a ruler to a desk or table
• buzzers/ticking clocks
• variety of materials eg foam sheeting, bubble wrap, woollen fabrics, newspaper, furry fabrics
• video of orchestra/band, or observation of school band/orchestra
• tuned drum
• wide-necked bottles
• secondary sources eg CD-ROMs, reference books providing information about aspects of sound