Investigating sound

In this set of activities, students are introduced to basic Physical World concepts about sound through the use of play and exploration.

This resource is designed for students working at New Zealand Curriculum levels 1 and 2. It also supports the Exploration – Mana Aotūroa strand in Te Whāriki. Rather than set out prescribed instructions, it identifies key science concepts and ways in which students can explore, experience and build their understanding of sound. It also provides pedagogical information to guide educators as they shape questions and discussions during the exploratory activities.

The article Building Science Concepts: Exploring sound provides background information about basic science concepts needed to understand sound and how we make and hear them.

Musical instruments

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Play and exploration with musical instruments introduces young learners to Physical World concepts about sound.

Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

This activity provides opportunities for students to investigate:

• differences in sounds

• how sounds are made

• ideas about volume and pitch.

You will need:

• instruments and objects for making a variety of sounds

• a way to record students’ ideas.

Download the Word file (see link below).

Related content and activities

Building Science Concepts: Exploring sound is a partial replication of the New Zealand Ministry of Education’s Building Science Concepts Book 18 Exploring Sound: Using Sound-makers and Musical Instruments. The article and interactive cover the science notes provided in the original BSC book.

Sound – lower primary is a collection of resources and notes for educators. You are welcome to copy the collection to your own profile, where you can edit and curate additional resources. The article Creating collections tells you how to get the most out of a collection.

Sounds of Aotearoa is a recorded PLD session that features educators from the New Zealand Association of Primary Science Educators (NZAPSE) exploring fun ways to learn and teach about sound.

Additional activities for investigating sound with younger students:

• Hearing sounds

• Musical sounds

• Investigating movement and sound with a pūrerehua