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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes

Find the part that vibrates to make the sound

Light, sound and waves

CCSS NGSS.1-PS4-1England: KS2 Y4 Sound

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Find the part that vibrates to make the sound.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Sound comes from vibrations

Leads to: Sound can make things vibrate; Send messages with light and sound; Loud and quiet sounds, near and far

Materials: Slinky or rope, Mirrors and torches, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Sound comes from vibrations). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What makes the sound when you pluck a guitar string? (the string getting hot / light from the string / the string vibrating / the wood breathing) → the string vibratingPrompt: Touch the string gently after plucking it.
  2. Sound: which statement is true? (Sound cannot travel through water. / Loud sounds do not involve vibrations. / Sounds get fainter as you move further from the source. / Sound travels through space between planets.) → Sounds get fainter as you move further from the source.Prompt: Can sound travel where there is nothing at all?
  3. Sound: which statement is NOT true? (Sound travels through space between planets. / Sounds get fainter as you move further from the source. / Sound can travel through solids, liquids and gases. / Sounds are made by vibrations.) → Sound travels through space between planets.Prompt: Can sound travel where there is nothing at all?

Hook · 5 min

  • Ask the class to make a wave with a rope or slinky and describe what moves and what doesn't.
  • Share the objective: Find the part that vibrates to make the sound. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What vibrates to make the sound of a voice?
  • Step 1: Air from your lungs makes your vocal cords vibrate.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: your vocal cords in your throat
  • Answer: your vocal cords in your throat
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What vibrates to make the sound of a recorder or flute? (the metal triangle / your vocal cords in your throat / the cone at the front / the air inside the tube) → the air inside the tubePrompt: Which part moves back and forth when the sound is made?
  2. Which part of a drum must you hit to make a sound? (the floor under it / the air around it / the strap / the stretched skin) → the stretched skinPrompt: Which part can wobble?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Put your fingers gently on your throat and hum. What do you feel? (a buzzing vibration / your heart stopping / something very cold / nothing at all) → a buzzing vibrationPrompt: Sounds are made by things moving back and forth.
  2. True or false? When a vibration stops, its sound stops. (True / False) → TruePrompt: What is happening to the object when a sound is made?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Sound comes from vibrations.
  • Use concrete materials: slinky or rope.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Sound can make things vibrate; Send messages with light and sound; Loud and quiet sounds, near and far.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-1.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Find the part that vibrates to make the sound

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What vibrates to make the sound of a recorder or flute?

    • A. the air inside the tube
    • B. your vocal cords in your throat
    • C. its wings
    • D. the stretched skin on top

  2. Question 2

    True or false? All sounds are made by something vibrating.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    You pluck a guitar string and then touch it to stop it moving. What happens to the sound?

    • A. It stops.
    • B. It gets higher.
    • C. It gets louder.
    • D. Nothing changes.

  4. Question 4

    What vibrates to make the sound of a drum?

    • A. the metal triangle
    • B. the stretched skin on top
    • C. the strings
    • D. the air inside the tube

  5. Question 5

    Put your fingers gently on your throat and hum. What do you feel?

    • A. your heart stopping
    • B. a buzzing vibration
    • C. nothing at all
    • D. something very cold

  6. Question 6

    What vibrates to make the sound of a voice?

    • A. the strings
    • B. your vocal cords in your throat
    • C. the metal triangle
    • D. the stretched skin on top

  7. Question 7

    Which part of a drum must you hit to make a sound?

    • A. the strap
    • B. the stretched skin
    • C. the air around it
    • D. the floor under it

  8. Question 8

    True or false? When a vibration stops, its sound stops.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Find the part that vibrates to make the sound

  1. 1. A. the air inside the tube

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. A. It stops.

  4. 4. B. the stretched skin on top

  5. 5. B. a buzzing vibration

  6. 6. B. your vocal cords in your throat

  7. 7. B. the stretched skin

  8. 8. A. True