PR-6171IRE Science A STEM Approach - 1st Class

Lesson 6
Energy and Forces
NOW YOU SEE IT! NOW YOU HEAR IT!
Lesson Plan
Introduction:
1. Demonstrate how different sounds are made using the following experiment. Fill eight identical
glasses or glass jars with varying amounts of water; i.e. 1 , 1 , 3 , 1 8 4 8 3
full and so on to completely full.
Use a metal teaspoon (or select pupils) to gently tap each glass to hear the difference in sound.
Which glass makes the highest sound? Which glass makes the lowest sound? Is it a loud sound or
a soft sound? Place the glass jars out of pitch order so the pupils can order them by the highest to
lowest sound.
Development:
2. Read through the BBC Bitesize information about sound at , also
linked to the QR code on page 79. What words describe sounds? Write ideas on the board, or
working wall, to assist pupils to complete their investigation. Reinforce the word pitch to describe
high and low sounds, and volume to describe loud and soft sounds.
3. Pupils then investigate how sounds are different. It is sufficient for this activity if pupils can identify
high, low, loud and soft sounds. Pupils rotate through the activities in small groups. At each activity,
there is one or more of the same instrument. Pupils take turns making a sound with the instrument.
Before they play each instrument, pupils verbally predict what the sound will be like. They then
record on their copy of page 79 what the sounds are like. They can also experiment with playing
each one loudly or softly to hear the difference.
4. After pupils have experimented and recorded their information, come together as a class to discuss
conclusions. Pupils can indicate by a show of hands the instruments they thought produced high,
low, loud and soft sounds, and discuss any differing responses. The teacher may wish to construct a
tally chart to record the show of hands for each instrument. How can you make an instrument play a
soft sound or a loud sound? Can some instruments play high and low sounds?
Differentiation
• Guided group work and mixed ability pairs should enable all pupils to complete the experiment
and to record whether the instruments make a high or low sound and whether they make a loud
or soft sound.
• Challenge pupils to create a Venn diagram to show the results of the experiment and investigate
other instruments and add them to the Venn diagram.
Reflection:
5. Complete the quiz questions about sound at as a class on the
whiteboard. Use the free version, where no answers are provided, as they are quite obvious. Clarify
any questions or problems the pupils may have.
Viewing sample
78 Science:
A STEM APPROACH
1st
CLASS
978-1-912760-15-2 Prim-Ed Publishing – www.prim-ed.com