Nature Works Everywhere
Recording the Rainforest
Animals have evolved to communicate in different frequencies so they can hear each other throughout the rainforest. The first lesson in a three-part series begins by exploring an interactive story map online about the Borneo rainforest....
PBS
Signal Senders
Send a signal to let others know one's location. Scholars investigate how scientists track the movement of marine wildlife. They model the process by creating a custom sound that can be used to identify each group member as they walk by.
DiscoverE
Arts and Engineering Activity Packet: Grades 3-5
Art and science sometimes go hand in hand. A set of four activities for learners in grades 3-5 teaches engineering concepts as part of art projects. Class members build homemade robots, elastic puppets, musical instruments, and...
Purdue University
Design of Music Instruments for a Rock Band
Can you create a rock band? Scholars learn about the creation and transmission of sound in a hands-on STEM activity. First, they explore the transmission of sound using a tuning fork. Then, they must solve the problem of missing...
Purdue University
Sound Absorption Wall
What types of materials absorb sound? Learners explore sound waves, the decibel scale, and how different materials affect sound. Then, they use their knowledge of sound meters to complete a STEM engineering design task to build...
Teach Engineering
Acoustic Mirrors
Investigate sound waves with acoustic mirrors. Using audio software, groups make recordings of musical instruments, both with and without acoustic mirrors. They compare the recordings to see the effect of acoustic mirrors on sound waves.
IOP Institute of Physics
Physics in Concert
What do physicists and musicians have in common? A lot more than you might think. After first viewing a slide show presentation and completing a series of skills practice worksheets on the physics of light, sound, and electricity, young...
Curated OER
The Halls are Alive with the Sound of Music
Students discuss physical places in which had good or bad acoustics. After reading an article, they discover the relationship between the physics of sound and concert hall acoustics. They calculate the speed of sound and compare their...
Curated OER
Acoustical Science
Students explore musical instruments and the pitches and tones they make. In this acoustical science lesson, students create their own string instruments and explore how pitch is altered.
Curated OER
Sound Wave Reflection
Students explore sound waves. In this sound wave lesson, students determine the path traveled by sound waves in an acoustic room. Students consider how sound travels and reflects, then they calculate the rate sound travels at.
Curated OER
A Change of Scene
Students evaluate their school's theater space. They study about the renovations to the University of Michigan's Hill Auditorium by reading and discussing the article "Michigan's Gem of an Auditorium Glitters Again." They then determine...
Curated OER
To Absorb or Reflect...That is the Question
Young scholars learn how different objects absorb and reflect sound. In this sound lesson plan, students actively listen to a lecture on sound absorption and sound reflection.
Curated OER
Architectural Acoustics
In this acoustics activity, students use a chart of the speed of sound through different materials to determine which materials should be used to build certain building types. Students complete 2 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Acoustics and You: Learning About the Science of Sound
In this sound worksheet, students engage in six different activities that familiarize them with terms related to sound. Activities include word search, word scramble, crossword puzzle, matching and maze.
Curated OER
Discovering the Mathematics of Sound
Students study the basic skills of algebraic manipulations. They practice the application of basic mathematics in science and determine the nature of good acoustics. They develop proposals for providing good acoustics and identify...
Curated OER
The Wind-Up and the Pitch
Students consider how sound affects one's experience at a ballpark and the ways that the acoustics at a baseball stadium might be improved. Students then recommend their own designs for a "soundly built" baseball stadium.
Curated OER
Good Vibrations: Sound, Acoustics, Science, Sports Arenas, Olympics
Students perform a series of tasks that integrate hands-on inquiry-based activities with the Internet to explore sound and acoustics. They develop an acoustics Web page to show what they have learned.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Auditorium Acoustics
Home page for a hypertext physics course on auditorium acoustics and acoustical design.
University of New South Wales (Australia)
University of New South Wales: Music Acoustics
Learn about the science of music acoustics. Topics such as how do violins change with age and brass acoustics are explored through scientific research.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Frequency Dependent Sound Absorption
Want to start a garage band, but Mom or Dad won't let you because it will make too much noise? This is a good project for someone who is interested in acoustics and likes to build things. The objective of this project is to determine if...
University of New South Wales (Australia)
University of New South Wales: Introduction to Acoustics of Brass Instruments
Discover the acoustical properties of brass instruments from this well researched site provided by the University of New South Wales. Everything from lip control to bell shape is discussed as it applies to frequencies and harmonics.
University of New South Wales (Australia)
University of New South Wales: Introduction to Saxophone Acoustics
Learn all about the ways a saxophone produces sound. Discover why the reed, playing softly or loudly and tone holes play important roles in this instruments acoustics.
University of New South Wales (Australia)
University of New South Wales: Introduction to Clarinet Acoustics
Learn about how the acoustics of a clarinet work by exploring this well researched site. You'll learn about the frequencies, the effects of the reed, the tone holes and more.
Other
Islandnet.com: The Gottfried Silbermann Legacy
Excellent site describing Silbermann's work on the organ as well as the development of the piano. Many interesting links to musical societies which also have musical worth.