Small Empty Boxes
Wide assortment of rubber bands (different thickness)
This activity allows students to experiment with a pitch. The pitch of a sound - how high or low it is – varies with the frequency of the sound waves ( the speed of the vibrations). A sound vibration with a high pitch is one that happens at very short, frequent intervals.
- Have students work in teams with different rubber bands and a box. Stretch rubber bands around the box the short way. Have students pluck the rubber bands with their fingers. Have them record their observations. (sight and sound)
- Have students change direction of rubber bands around the box. Have them record their observations and compare results. (Pitch will be higher as rubber bands are stretched tighter and thinner.)
- Have students observe a guitar. Have students predict which string will make the lowest sound and which will make the highest sound.
- Have students collect pictures of sound words, ones that illustrate words like buzz, meow, slap, slurp, drip, plop, hiss, chirp, tick-tock, knock-knock, etc.
- Teach the class how to say the word onomatopoeia, the formation of a name or word by imitating the sound associated with the thing designated. (Also, it is the only word in the English language with four different vowels in a row.)
- To give them more practice, have them create some poems or illustrate their own words.