In this lesson, students will learn about the kazoo. Students will learn about what it is, how it is made, and how sound is produced. Students will also learn how to make their own kazoo.

This article provides links to lessons and units about birds, bird characteristics, and penguins. Ideas for literacy integration are included, and all lessons are aligned to national standards.

This multimedia resource, part of the NC Science Now series, describes how an Asheville musician / inventor / entrepeneur has devloped a device that transforms how the acoustic guitar physically makes sounds. Called an acoustic synthesizer, it alters how the strings vibrate, adding nearly 100 new sounds to the instrument. Components of this resource include a video and a related blog article. Links to these components are provided on the page under the heading "UNC-TV Media."

Learn how composers and sound designers use their tools to create or enhance mood in a film or commercial.

In my PBL inquiry Project I plan on covering standard 3.1.1. This standard goes over sound and sound vibrations, and with that being said we are going to be talking about what sound is, different objects we can use to creat sound, and different techniques we can use to get different sounds, along with different ranged (quiet to loud) noises. Attached is the PBL Inuiry Based Project layout, what will be discussed, what activities we will be doing, and the rubric I will be going off of to grade the final project.

To further their understanding of sound energy, students identify the different pitches and frequencies created by a vibrating ruler and a straw kazoo. They create high- and low-pitch sound waves.

This unit aligns to the North Carolina second grade science standards 2.P.1 Understand the relationship between sound & vibrating objects.  

Students will learn how sound travels through different materials. They will be involved in activities to explore how they can create sounds using different materials. They will be involved in activities to experience pitch and volume and how you can create different pitch and volume using different materials. They will design an instrument using recycled materials.

Students are introduced to the sound environment as an important aspect of a room or building. Several examples of acoustical engineering design for varied environments are presented. Students learn the connections between the science of sound waves and engineering design for sound environments.

Music and sound are two different concepts that share much in common. Determining the difference between the two can sometimes be difficult due to the subjective nature of deciding what is or is not music. The goal of this activity is to take something constructed by students, that would be normally classified as just sound and have the class work together to make what can be perceived to be music. Students construct basic stringed instruments made of shoeboxes and rubber bands. This activity aims to increase student understanding of what distinguishes music from sound.

Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer, from NGSS 1PS 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, and 4-4.

Driving Question: How can I, as a 1st grade engineer, design a device to let people know I am safe, using light and sound?

This link goes to an interactive orchestra you can use with any age group. It breaks it down into the instrument families and then by instrument. (Conductor included)

Have you ever wondered just how sound works sometimes without even making noise? This program will talk about how important sound is for all animals, even for animals without ears, vibrations are the key to communication!

We have created helpful clips if you are unable to watch the full video:
2.P.1 Sound waves (1.5 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=107
2.P.1 Elephant sounds and acoustic fat (6.5 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=194
2.P.1 Alligator Sounds (5 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=588
2.P.1 Rattlesnake Rattle (2 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=2394
2.P.1 How snakes use vibrations and hiss (9 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=1425
2.P.1 How/why madagascar hissing cockroaches hiss (3 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=2162
2.P.1 Cat purrs and roars (7 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=2394
2.P.1 Echolocation (3 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=2829

Animal Encounters:
Cypress the American Alligator (8 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=588
Griffon the Northern Pine Snake (9 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=1401
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (3 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=2163