Teachers & Parents

Course Level: K-2 | Physical Science | Physics | All

Animal Bioacoustics

Echolocation Class Activities

  • Echolocation Part 1

    Students explore the speed of sound and identification from a distance. The activity concludes with a fish finding activity.
  • Echolocation Part 2

    Students explore the idea of how it feels to use sound to locate objects and experiment with having to search for objects above and below them, not just side to side

Music

Basics of Instruments Unit

  • Musical Instruments Part II - Strings

    Students experiment with various sounds sources, including their voice, cup instruments, string, and guitars, to gain an understanding of the connection between sound and vibration.
  • Generalizing How Musical Instruments Work

    Students use their background knowledge to make generalizations about how instruments work. This lesson was designed for use after the Sound and Music introductory lesson and Musical Instruments Part I and Part II
  • Musical Instruments Part I - Woodwinds

    Students investigate how instruments make sound by creating their own "straw instrument" in this in-class inquiry activity.

Other Resources

Our Ears

Dangerous Decibels Program

Other Resources

  • Sound and Music

    Introductory hands-on, minds-on activity to the science of sound, music and our ears. This lesson goes with our Teacher Activity Kit.
  • How to Wear Earplugs

    5 minute video demonstrating the proper way to roll and fit foam earplugs.
  • Loud Sounds Book Marks

    Two sided full color bookmarks show sound level for certain sounds and time limits for different levels.
  • Protect your ears Coloring Sheet

    Coloring Sheets - warning signs on how to protect your ears from loud sounds.

General

  • Anatomy of a Wave

    Students take on the roles of reporters and artists to draw and describe the nature of transverse waves.
  • Doppler Effect

    Students experience the Doppler effect through videos, discussion, and teacher demonstrations.
  • Middle School Sound Activities

    An index of materials that have been tested and reviewed for use with middle school students
  • Sound and Music

    Introductory hands-on, minds-on activity to the science of sound, music and our ears. This lesson goes with our Teacher Activity Kit.
  • Teacher Activity Kit Workshop

    Powerpoint slides that outline the AAPT Teacher Activity Kit Workshop presented in Philadelphia July 28, 2012.
  • Wave Basics

    Students explore the PhET Interactive Simulation “Wave on a String” focusing on amplitude and frequency as well as wave travel.
  • Tuning Fork Discovery with Study of the Science of Sound

    Students examine a brief history of the discovery of how sound works and then use tuning forks to experiment with how sound works.

The resources marked with a gold star are considered complete hands-on, minds-on activities ready for teacher use. The activity format has been teacher-tested. Care has been taken to provide content explanations for the teacher or interested gifted student who wants to explore further. You will find that all gold star activities:

  • are safe
  • are affordable
  • are practical and easy to use
  • have been classroom tested
  • are supported by rich content
  • have been reviewed by K-12 teachers
  • have been reviewed by science content specialists
  • have been reviewed by education researchers
  • have been aligned with national science standards
For your convenience activities are organized into detailed, easy-to-follow sections found below with individual sections designated.
  • science topics that are covered
  • science process skills that are used
  • time required for each stage of the activity:
    • advance preparation for teacher (does not include gathering supplies),
    • set-up before class,
    • doing the activity with students, and
    • clean-up after the activity
    • materials supplies list
  • detailed step-by-step activity procedure instructions
  • hints for introducing the activity in a manner that facilitates inquiry process, speculation, independent thinking, and discovery
  • hints to guide class discussion and encourage student analysis and conclusion building
  • explanations of in-depth scientific content for teachers and interested students
  • optional extensions and cross curricular connections to disciplines, such as math or music, for teachers who enjoy extending lessons and for those who integrate disciplines throughout their lessons

 

 

Leaping Dolphins