Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Sound Vibrations

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

1

Overview

This lesson is designed to help students understand that vibrations are responsible for the sounds we hear. Additionally, they learn that sound vibrations can travel through different mediums. Students experience vibrations using several of their senses: They feel the vibrations in their throat as they hum music, and on their lips as they play their straw kazoos. They see that when a ruler is struck, it vibrates, producing a sound. Drums are also used to show vibrations, as students watch grains of rice bouncing on the surface of the drum after it has been hit, and a laser pointer creates a laser show in the classroom when reflected off a vibrating mirror. Finally, students design a test that uses their sense of hearing to judge the effectiveness of different solids to transmit sound vibrations.

    Science (2015) Grade(s): 1

    SC15.1.1

    Conduct experiments to provide evidence that vibrations of matter can create sound (e.g., striking a tuning fork, plucking a guitar string) and sound can make matter vibrate (e.g., holding a piece of paper near a sound system speaker, touching your throat while speaking).

    Unpacked Content

    UP:SC15.1.1

    Vocabulary

    • vibrations/vibrate
    • matter
    • sound
    • evidence
    • experiments
    • conduct
    • create

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Sound can cause matter to vibrate.
    • Vibrating matter can cause sound.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Conduct investigations to provide evidence that sound makes matter vibrate and vibrating matter makes sound.
    • Make observations that can be used as evidence about sound.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Sound can cause matter to vibrate.
    • Vibrating matter can cause sound.
    • There is a cause/effect relationship between vibrating materials and sound.

    Scientific and Engineering Practices

    Planning and Carrying out Investigations

    Crosscutting Concepts

    Cause and Effect
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Learning Activity

    Resource Provider

    PBS
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    CUSTOM
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