Grade Range
6th-8th
Group Size
4 students
Active Time
2 hours 10 minutes
Total Time
2 hours 10 minutes
Area of Science
Physics
Key Concepts
Sound waves, frequency, pitch, amplitude, sound intensity
Learning Objectives
  • Recognize and describe the patterns and characteristics of a sound wave (amplitude, frequency).
  • Explain how the amplitude of a sound wave is related to its sound intensity (volume or loudness).
  • Measure sound intensities of sounds and draw graphs showing sound levels based on measured data.
Credits
Jill Magruder, M.Ed.
Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies
works with google science journal app
Drawing of a speaker next to bars representing sound levels

Overview

Do you feel like it is always too loud in your classroom? In this lesson you can find out exactly how loud it is. Using Google's Science Journal, your students will measure and graph the sound levels in your classroom for different working scenarios. How loud are your students when doing independent work, having a group discussion, or listening to their teacher? Based on your students' data, you will determine as a class which sound levels are ideal for each scenario and create a classroom poster that reminds your students of these sound levels throughout the school year.

NGSS Alignment

This lesson helps students prepare for these Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations:
  • MS-PS4-1. Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave.
This lesson focuses on these aspects of NGSS Three Dimensional Learning:

Science & Engineering Practices Disciplinary Core Ideas Crosscutting Concepts
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations. Collect data to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer scientific questions or test design solutions under a range of conditions.

Conduct an investigation and/or evaluate and/or revise the experimental design to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence that meet the goals of the investigation

Analyzing and Interpreting Data. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for phenomena.
 PS4.A: Wave Properties. A simple wave has a repeating pattern with a specific wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.
 Patterns. Graphs and charts can be used to identify patterns in data.

Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Prediction. Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural or designed systems.
Next: Materials

Materials


Poster sized paper, stickers, markers and a smartphone

Materials per group of 4 students:

  • Poster-sized paper to create a classroom poster
  • Markers
  • Stickers or other decoration options for the poster
  • Smartphone or tablet with Google's Science Journal app, available for free on Google Play for Android devices (version 4.4 or newer) or from the App Store for iOS devices (iOS 9.3 or newer).
Next: Teacher Prep

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Grade Range
6th-8th
Group Size
4 students
Active Time
2 hours 10 minutes
Total Time
2 hours 10 minutes
Area of Science
Physics
Key Concepts
Sound waves, frequency, pitch, amplitude, sound intensity
Credits
Jill Magruder, M.Ed.
Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies
works with google science journal app
Learning Objectives
  • Recognize and describe the patterns and characteristics of a sound wave (amplitude, frequency).
  • Explain how the amplitude of a sound wave is related to its sound intensity (volume or loudness).
  • Measure sound intensities of sounds and draw graphs showing sound levels based on measured data.
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