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Science at key stage 3    (Year 8)

Unit 8L: Sound and hearing
Section 1: a. How are different sounds made?

QCA

Objectives
Children should learn:
  • to use appropriate language to describe different sounds
  • that sounds are made as a result of vibrations

Activities

Outcomes
Children:
  • Review pupils' knowledge and understanding of sound. Play an audio tape of different sounds, and ask pupils to identify and/or describe them. Check they use associated words correctly, eg 'high' and 'low' to describe pitch, and 'loud' and 'soft' to describe intensity.
  • Ask pupils how sound is produced. Show pupils examples where the vibration is easily seen, eg tuning fork and polystyrene ball, loudspeaker and grains of sand. Provide familiar sound sources or pictures, eg musical instruments, and ask pupils to identify which part(s) vibrate(s) to make the sound.
  • describe different sounds using appropriate terms, eg high, low and soft
  • explain that sounds are made as a result of vibrations and identify the source of vibration in a range of cases

Points to note
  • This activity is intended to help teachers find out what pupils know and understand about sound from key stage 2.
  • Some pupils may confuse the use of sound words, eg low for soft, and high for loud. Working through examples to reinforce the concepts of pitch and intensity may be required to overcome this.
  • In music the loudness (volume) of a sound is one of the elements, called the 'dynamics' of the sound. The opposite of loud is quiet; soft refers to the quality or timbre of the sound.

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
1. a. How are different sounds made?
2. b. How are different sounds made?
3. c. How are different sounds made?
4. How does sound travel through solids, liquids and gases?
5. Checking progress
6. a. How do we hear sounds?
7. b. How do we hear sounds?
8. c. How do we hear sounds?
9. a. Can sound be dangerous?
10. b. Can sound be dangerous?
11. c. Can sound be dangerous?
12. Reviewing work