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Where do sounds come from?

Where do sounds come from?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
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# Optional Activity: Head Harp

This simple sound experiment from San Francisco's Exploratorium lets your students experiment with sound—without making a lot of noise. Each student will need a piece of string or yarn that’s at least 3 feet (1 meter) long. Students can work on their own, but we suggest students work in pairs so they can discuss their ideas with one another.

Follow the instructions here. Encourage students to experiment to figure out how to change the sound. (They can make it higher by pulling the string tighter and lower by loosening the string.)

Slide Image

vibration


1 of 2

a quick movement back and forth
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sound


2 of 2

vibrations that you can usually hear with your ears
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Featured Reviews

“The read along story and the string harp experiment were so easy to use!”
· Lisa · Teacher
“Interesting read aloud! The paper was a great way to show vibrations!”
· Michelle · Teacher
“The students really enjoyed it. They loved the head harp which helped them understand about how vibrations make sound.”
· Kelly · Teacher
“Exploring the different sounds and understanding that it is the vibration that makes the sound. We did the suggested Secret bells activity. They loved it!”
· Megan · Teacher
“We all enjoyed the story about how vibrations cause sound! They also had a great time wiggling the paper to make their own vibrations. Thank you!”
· Nicole · Homeschooler
“So far these activities have been easy and cheap to do. I really like how they words highlight has you read them in the book.”
· Rachael · Teacher
“The class really like the head harp activity. They started experimenting with other ways to get the yard to make a sound.”
· Lisa · Teacher
“The kids loved the interactive part. It was so neat the way "turn and talk" was built in. Impressive!”
· Rachel · Teacher
“The story and stopping points for discussion. Students also liked the activity, which was easy for me to prepare.”
· · Teacher
“Students were engaged and understand vibrations are creating sounds now!!”
· Karen · Teacher
“I liked how it had video along with the book. I also liked that it got the kids up and moving. Good information.”
· Laurie · Teacher
“I love the variety and multiple dimensions of the lessons. I stopped and started the video to have discussions, do the activities, and some others I added...having the visual, the book for reading and to follow along with gave us a great structure and pacing! I can't say enough good things about Mystery Science! I look forward to using it for years to come!”
· Karen · Teacher
“They loved playing with the different vibrations. I was also able to do several of the extra activities. My students favorite activity was with the hanger and string.”
· Victoria · Teacher
“Wonderful and easy to follow. Best part is the questions that stemmed from this lesson! ”
· Sara · Homeschooler
“I loved the videos along the way as we read the story. The students were engaged and it was a good introduction to the instrument families.”
· Priscilla · Teacher
“My kids LOVED playing along with the paper and then finding out the noise that the craft stick made! It was so much fun!!”
· Suellen · Teacher
“Easy to implement and my students were engaged! They loved the stained-glass project/craft :)”
· Kristi · Teacher
“The moments to stop and talk were awesome for my incredibly vocal bunch of first graders.”
· Jasmine · Teacher
“The students enjoyed making the Head Harp that was found under the Optional Activity tab. They were amazed at the differences in the sounds they heard based on where they put their hands. ”
· Joanetta · Teacher
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep

Switch to non-narrated version

In this Read-Along lesson, Lin explores the sounds made by different kinds of instruments, and discovers what happens when vibrations start—and when they stop. The lesson includes a short exercise where students experiment with a piece of paper to make the connection between vibrations and sound. You can extend the lesson with the optional activity, Head Harp, where students make simple musical instruments using only their heads and string.
Preview optional activity

I have a Mystery Pack

String
Yarn also works.
Details
3 feet per student
Prep Instructions

We recommend a simple sound experiment from San Francisco's Exploratorium that lets your students experiment with sound—without making a lot of noise. Follow the instructions here. Encourage students to experiment to figure out how to change the sound. They can make it higher by pulling the string tighter and lower by loosening the string. Each student will need a piece of string or yarn that’s at least 3 feet (1 meter) long. Students can work on their own, but we suggest students work in pairs so they can discuss their ideas with one another.

Extend this lesson

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish

Activity

Activity

If you enjoyed Head Harp and want to continue experimenting, here are two more simple sound experiments from San Francisco's Exploratorium.

  • Secret Bells makes sounds only you can hear! You'll need string, scissors, and an unpainted wire clothes hanger.

  • Set your classroom buzzing with Bee Hummer, a simple instrument that sounds like a swarm of bees.

Transcripts

Credits
 
Light Read-Along Lesson 2: Where do sounds come from?

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