Dry curly pasta
Activity

Making a Musical Instrument: An Introduction to the Study of Sound

Hands-on activity to introduce students who are blind or visually impaired to the study of sound by making a sound maker or instrument.

Make a musical instrument or a sound maker, then describe its sound!

This activity is a great introduction to the study of sound for students of all ages.

Materials

Preparation

Very little preparation is needed. Just assemble materials. 

Procedure

an assembled plate shakerPlace one paper plate right side up on your tray.

  1. Place one small handful of macaroni on the paper plate.
  2. Cover the macaroni with the other paper plate.
  3. Use the stapler to fasten the plate all around the outside edge. Ask your teacher for help. Other methods of joining the two plates include using tape or placing small amounts of poster putty all around the edge of one of the plates the pressing the two plates together.
  4. Shake your musical instrument.  What is making the sound?
  5. Just hold your musical instrument. Do not shake it.  Is it making a sound?
  6. Shake your instrument really fast.  Describe the sound.
  7. Shake your instrument very slowly.  Describe the sound.

Variations

decorate plate shakerThe most important concept of this activitiy is that vibration causes sound! 

Other questions and statements can encourage students to think about pitch and duration of sounds:

Decorating the plates with stickers, colored markers, or ribbons adds to the fun! 

NGSS Standards

PS4.A
Wave properties:

By Kate Fraser

Collage of musical instruments

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