Sound energy is a fun and hands-on science concept. Read on to see some fun teaching activities about sound energy for the elementary classroom. When I taught fourth grade we were departmentalized. I taught science to all the fourth-grade classes. My primary focus was on physical science.
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Pitch Experiment
This simple activity requires a ruler and a desk. Place the ruler at the edge of the desk with some of it hanging over the edge and hold it in place with one hand. Use your other hand to flick the end of the ruler and listen to what happens. Move the ruler so that more or less hangs off the edge and repeat.
Feeling the Sound Waves
This simple experiment requires no additional tools. All you need to complete it is your students. Have your students place their hands on their throats and hum or make a small sound. Have them feel the vibrations produced from their vocal cords while making the sound. You can have them make higher and lower sounds or louder and softer sounds to see if the vibrations change.
Palm Pipes
Palm pipes are a fun way to explore sound.
You can make your own by purchasing PVC pipe from a local hardware store and cutting it to the following lengths:
Sand the edges of the pipes to clean up any sharp areas and get to experimenting. Play the pipe by hitting it directly into the palm of your hand.
If you aren’t into the DIY aspect you can purchase already made palm pipes by clicking the link below. These pipes are made by Steve Spangler and I had a few sets of these in my classroom. They are great because they are color-coded.
Straw Flutes
Make straw flutes with your students by using plastic straws and scissors. Cut the ends of the straw off to make a triangle with a flattened top. These pieces will act like the reed in a wind instrument. Position your mouth onto the straw and gently blow. This activity does take some practice! Check out the video for specifics.
Snap Circuits
Snap circuits are always a hit. In this kit, your students will build a simple FM radio. It is for ages 8 and up.
This set is an exploration set and can be used to explore many different science topics!
Sound Activity Freebie
Want More?
I have created an entire unit on sound energy available on Teachers Pay Teachers. To check it out and see the preview click here.
See what people are saying about this unit: “I wish I could give this 10 stars! This is an amazing resource. Due to the pandemic, I found myself teaching science for the first time in almost a decade. This resource more than delivered. It is engaging and thorough in it’s content. It lead to nice discussions. I also loved that it was progressive with the multiple ways to show its content and was no-prep for me. I also appreciated the hands-on activities and that I learned many things myself along the way. Thank you so much!”
