1. Morning Activities
Science Sound Year 4

2. Different Sounds These instruments need to be put into groups.
Key question:
How does the instrument create a sound?
Look at the photographs and decide how to group the instruments depending on how it makes a sound.
guitar
bodhran
bongos
violin
flute
harp
snare drums
Double bass
saxophone
sitar
Photo courtesy of Timothy 420, redwazzo, wasabisauerkraut, Paul Stein, James Jordan, Dave Conner, Mariorei and Alice Carrier Pierre Kroupensky & Riccardo Mottola - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

3. Compare Pitch This is a double bass.
It has quite a low pitch compared to other instruments.
Look at the instrument’s size.
Why do you think it has a lower pitch?
This is a piccolo.
It has quite a high pitch compared to other instruments.
Look at the instrument’s size. Why do you think it has a higher pitch?
HA Challenge: Write a sentence about pitch that compares big instruments to small instruments.
Photo courtesy of The University of Louisville and Mariorei - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

4. Sound Travels to the Ear
We can hear objects because they cause vibrations. Our brain hears the vibrations and turns this into a sound.
How does the ear in this diagram hear the vibrations made by the harp?
Complete the diagram.
ear
drum
ear
harp
LA: How can a musician make an instrument louder?
Photo courtesy of Timothy 420, redwazzo, wasabisauerkraut, Paul Stein, James Jordan, Dave Conner, Mariorei and Alice Carrier Pierre Kroupensky & Riccardo Mottola - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

5. Write 5 sentences about what the results tell you.
The Sound Engineer
Nobody likes listening to other people’s muffled music on the bus, train or in the car. So Sound Engineer Magazine decided to hunt for the best headphones on earth for keeping music tastes private. It tested 5 of the best rated headphones. It wanted to find headphones that could play music without anybody else hearing what was being played.
They played the same music track on each set of headphones at the highest volume. They then counted how many steps they needed to take away from the headphones until they could not hear the music any more. They repeated the test.
This is what they discovered:
Headphones
Steps
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3 A 10 11 B 27 22 25 C 9 20 8 D 1 E 3 2
Write 5 sentences about what the results tell you.
HA Challenge: If you wanted to test the headphones for comfort, how would you do this?
Photo courtesy of Eldeeem - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

6. piano drums flute trumpet saxophone tambourine triangle double bass
Creative Thinking
Design an instrument that reflects your local area or environment e.g. a local symbol or local materials.
Do you live by the seaside?
Some of these things could influence the materials you use, the sounds you make or the designs you decorate it with.
What kind of pitch will your instrument have?
What kind of volume can it produce?
How will you play your instrument?
Use sand, shells, make seashore sounds…
Near the coast?
Think about the crashing waves, the boats and cranes.
In the countryside?
Think about the breeze, the hedgerows, animals…
In a city?
The traffic and noise, the landmarks, the history of your place.
What is your area famous for?
Think about a famous statue or fountain.
Are there different cultures in your area?
Think about the decorations and the sounds of those cultures.
LA: Sort these instruments into different groups called ‘hit’ ‘blow’ ‘pluck’
piano drums flute trumpet saxophone tambourine triangle double bass
Photo courtesy of Timothy 420, redwazzo, wasabisauerkraut, Paul Stein, James Jordan, Dave Conner, Mariorei and Alice Carrier Pierre Kroupensky & Riccardo Mottola - granted under creative commons licence - attribution