This term Year 2 and 1 will be studying sound - what it is, how it is made, what is the difference between music and noise. We will have lots of opportunities for designing and creating our own sound making devices. Welcome to a noisy term of science!
The Landfill Harmonic"The world sends us garbage. We give it back music". As we begin converting our our recycled materials into musical instruments in class, watch the inspirational story of a community from Paraguay that converts rubbish into beautiful sound.
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The Rain OrchestraPerpetuum Jazzile is a choral group from Slovenia but the introduction to this famous song will make you sit up in amazement. Try and listen with your eyes closed!
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Glass OrchestraWe investigated how sound changes in a glass bottle when we changed the amount of water in it. Watch this video for that idea taken to an extraordinary level!
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Run Noisy, Run Deep
Do fish make sounds? This was a key question we weren't able to answer in class. Turns out - they do! Some 1200 species of fish have been recorded making sounds that can sometimes be very very loud indeed. Click on the photograph to the left to discover some very noisy fish.
So why can't you hear fish chattering away below the surface when you're in a boat or swimming in the sea? That's because the boundary between water and air acts like a sound barrier and sounds don't pass across easily. Scientists have to use special microphones underwater to 'hear' fish.
And that all important question... Can your goldfish talk back to you? Sadly the answer is No. Scientists have found that while they have excellent hearing (don't tap on the glass too hard - you will scare your fish) they don't make any sounds themselves.
So why can't you hear fish chattering away below the surface when you're in a boat or swimming in the sea? That's because the boundary between water and air acts like a sound barrier and sounds don't pass across easily. Scientists have to use special microphones underwater to 'hear' fish.
And that all important question... Can your goldfish talk back to you? Sadly the answer is No. Scientists have found that while they have excellent hearing (don't tap on the glass too hard - you will scare your fish) they don't make any sounds themselves.
Find out how to sort out loud and soft sounds, and high and low pitched sounds, how to change sounds on musical instruments and more ....
Instruments of the Orchestra
Making your own instrument from recycled materials
Watch these two videos on the right from John Bertles at Bash the Trash for some great tips on making instruments from your recycling
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Sound Uncovered AppWe have enjoyed using the Sound Uncovered app on the iPads. It is produced by the wonderful science museum The Exploratorium in San Francisco, U.S.A.
The app is available to download on iTunes and is FREE! |
Online Sound GamesThe Exploratorium also has excellent online activities relating to sound and listening. Visit the website for lots of listening and learning fun or click on the links below.
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Can You See Sound?We have watched a couple of interesting videos showing us what sounds LOOKS like. It is amazing how organised nature is. The patterns are so beautiful.
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