How sounds are made
National Curriculum Links KS2 – England and Wales
Science Sc4
3e Sounds are made when objects vibrate but vibrations are not always
directly visible
Science Sc1
1a Science is about thinking creatively to try to explain how living and non-living
things work, and to establish links between causes and effects
English En3
9bInform and explain, focusing on the subject matter and how to convey it in
sufficient detail for the reader
National Curriculum Links KS2 – Northern Ireland
The World Around Us – Science
• How sounds travel and light shines through some materials
English – Writing
• Write for a variety of purposes and audiences, selecting, planning and using
appropriate style and form
5-14 Curriculum – Scotland
Environmental Studies – Science
• Vibrations identified and explored as the source of sound
English Writing
• To convey information (functional writing)
How we hear
Key objectives
To enhance pupils’ understanding of how sounds are made when objects or
materials vibrate. To plan an investigation as a group focusing on how to test
and record results.
activity one
Practical investigation
Write the statement ‘sounds are made when objects vibrate
on the board. Ask the children to get into groups and plan
how they could investigate if this statement is true. You could suggest
resources/equipment they could use to plan their investigation, this
would ensure ideas are kept realistic and would be able to be tested.
When all groups have their investigation plan, get them to share their
plans with the class and discuss them as a class.
In their groups, get pupils to collect equipment and perform the tests
following their plans, recording their results accurately to feedback to class.
Ask the question ‘are sounds made when objects vibrate?’. Explain you
can’t always see objects vibrate but to enable us to hear sounds they do
vibrate.
two
Resources – plastic cup • ruler • drum • tuning fork • string • beater • water
science book • rice
Label the ear
Ask pupils to label the parts of the ear using
different sources of information.
Resources
• www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/ear/
• www.kidshealth.org/kid/body/ear_noSW.html
• Resource sheets ‘The ear’ ‘The ear - label’
Information leaflet
Get students to produce a quality information leaflet
on ‘How the Ear Works’.
As a class, discuss the key features of non-fiction writing to ensure they
are included in their leaflets. Write these on the board for reference.
Where appropriate, pupils will need to use correct scientific language. A
list can be written and kept on the board.
As a class discuss where they will find the information needed to write
their leaflets. Pupils can be guided with suggested sections for their
information leaflet if needed: • Front cover – title and illustration
• Contents page • How sound is produced • Different types of sounds –
loud/quiet sounds • How the ear works • Labelled diagram of the ear
• Facts about the ear/hearing • How other animals hear • Deafness
• Looking after your ears • Quiz
Resources
• www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/ear/
• www.kidshealth.org/kid/body/ear_noSW.html
• Information/Science books
How we hear
activity three
The pupils will need to plan what information they would like to include
in their leaflet, who their audience is and how they will present the
information. Pupils need to be reminded that the information presented
needs to be written in their own words.
How sound is produced
National Curriculum Links KS2 – England and Wales
Science Sc4
3e Sounds are made when objects vibrate
3g Vibrations from sound sources require a medium through which to travel to
the ear
ICT
1a Talk about what information they need, how they can find and use it
English En1
1 Speak/ sign with confidence in a range of contexts, adapting their speech for
a range of purposes and audiences
National Curriculum Links KS2 – Northern Ireland
The World Around Us – Science
• How sounds travel and light shines through some materials
ICT
• Research, select, process and interpret information
English – Talking and Listening
• Prepare and give and give a short oral/ signed presentation to a familiar
group, showing an awareness of audience and including the use of
multimedia presentations
5-14 Curriculum – Scotland
Environmental Studies – Science
• Vibrations identified and explored as the source of sound
Key objectives
To successfully search the Internet and find information on how sound is
produced. To know how sound is produced and how we hear sounds. To be
able to present a 5-minute talk about sound as a group.
How we hear
English – Talking and Listening/ Watching
• To present, share, clarify and reflect on ideas, experiences and opinions
(conveying information, instructions and directions)
Research and group presentation
Group pupils together and ask them to prepare and present a 5
minute presentation and demonstration to the class on sound –
how sound is produced and how we hear sound. They have to plan
how they will collect factual information to inform their presentation
and how to present their information.
Explain that they can use previous learning in science on how sound is
produced and they can include practical demonstrations, pictures, models
and use ICT tools in their presentation (If they haven’t completed the
practical sound vibrations experiments it would be useful to demonstrate
them with appropriate information at this stage).
activity
Pupils can be given addresses for websites to ensure the information they
find is at an appropriate level with clear visual aids. Depending on the
class groupings the level of information given during each presentation
will vary. A demonstration of using one website with some accompanying
information will support their understanding of how we hear sound for
their presentations.
Suggested sub-headings to help structure their presentation could be
given using the following headings: • Introduction • How sound is
produced • Sound vibration demonstration • How sound travels from
source to the ear (use a picture/computer image of the ear) • 3D computer
demonstration
How we hear
Resources
• www.hearingcenteronline.com/ear2.shtml
• www.oticon.co.uk/eprise/main/Oticon/UK_en/SEC_AboutHearing/
MedicalAspects/CNT03_HowDoesTheEarWork