• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Pitch and loudness; Parts of a wave). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Water is poured into identical glass bottles to different levels. You blow across the tops. Which bottle gives the highest note? (the empty one / they are all the same / the one with the most water (shortest air column) / the one with the least water) → the one with the most water (shortest air column)Prompt: When you blow, the air inside vibrates.
2. Pitch and loudness: which statement is true? (Loud sounds always have a high pitch. / Longer strings make higher notes. / Faster vibrations make higher-pitched sounds. / Hitting a drum harder makes a higher note.) → Faster vibrations make higher-pitched sounds.Prompt: Pitch is about how fast; loudness is about how big.
3. How do you make a drum sound louder? (hit it more gently / cover it with a cloth / hit it harder / use a smaller drum) → hit it harderPrompt: Bigger vibrations make louder sounds.

• Ask the class to make a wave with a rope or slinky and describe what moves and what doesn't.
• Share the objective: Frequency and amplitude of sound waves. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: A guitar string vibrates 400 times in 4 seconds. What is the frequency of the sound, in hertz (Hz)?
• Step 1: 400 ÷ 4 = 100
• Step 2: So the answer is: 100 Hz
• Answer: 100 Hz
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. A guitar string vibrates 1024 times in 4 seconds. What is the frequency of the sound, in hertz (Hz)? → 256 HzPrompt: Frequency is the number of waves (vibrations) per second.
2. Humans can hear from about 20 Hz to 20 000 Hz. Could a young person hear a sound of 5 kHz? (yes / no, it is ultrasound) → yesPrompt: Convert kHz to Hz first.

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. A guitar string vibrates 500 times in 5 seconds. What is the frequency of the sound, in hertz (Hz)? → 100 HzPrompt: Frequency is the number of waves (vibrations) per second.
2. Why does the upper limit of hearing often fall as people get older? (The ear canal gets wider / Sound gets slower / Older people make higher sounds / Sensitive cells in the inner ear are gradually damaged) → Sensitive cells in the inner ear are gradually damagedPrompt: Loud noise speeds this up.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-6.