New
New
Year 4

How sounds are made

I can identify that sounds are made when something vibrates.

New
New
Year 4

How sounds are made

I can identify that sounds are made when something vibrates.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sounds are made when an object vibrates.
  2. If an object is not vibrating, it will not make a sound.
  3. Different objects produce different sounds.
  4. Vibrations and sounds can be made in different ways.

Common misconception

Children often believe that sound can be produced without using any materials.

Ensure opportunities for children to learn about objects vibrating in order to produce sounds.

Keywords

  • Sounds - We hear sounds with our ears.

  • Object - An object is a thing that is not alive.

  • Vibrations - Vibrations are when an object moves very fast from side to side.

Tuning forks can often be found in the school music cupboard. Children can use them to feel the vibrations travelling through the metal fork and also to see the effects of vibrations on the surface of liquid such as water.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Access to speakers, small dish of water, tuning fork.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
  • Exploration of objects

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is sound?
something we taste
Correct answer: something we hear
something we see
Q2.
Which part of the body do we use to hear sound?
An image in a quiz
our arms
our mouths
Correct answer: our ears
our eyes
Q3.
True or false? All objects make the same sound.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: False, false
Q4.
Which of the following can make a sound?
standing still
Correct answer: writing your name
Correct answer: stamping your feet
Q5.
Which of the statements about sound are true?
Correct answer: Musical instruments can make different sounds.
Correct answer: People can make different sounds.
Correct answer: Animals can make different sounds.
Q6.
Which of the following does not involve making a sound?
clapping your hands
jumping up and down
Correct answer: holding a feather
Q5 image 1 Stefano Bianchetti / Bridgeman Images

6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? Sounds are created when an object vibrates.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: True, true
Q2.
When a drum and a glass bottle are hit, they will produce ...
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: different sounds.
the same sounds.
no sounds.
Q3.
Which of these describes what a vibration is?
A vibration is when an object stays still.
Correct answer: A vibration is when an object moves very fast from side to side.
A vibration is when an object moves slowly from side to side.
Q4.
Which of these statements about vibrations is true?
Correct answer: If an object is not vibrating, then a sound will not be made.
If an object is not vibrating, then a sound will be made.
The only way to make an object vibrate and make a sound is to hit it.
Q5.
Match the objects to how it can be made to vibrate.
Correct Answer:xylophone,tapping

tapping

Correct Answer:ball,bouncing

bouncing

Correct Answer:baby's rattle,shaking

shaking

Q6.
Which statement about making a sound is correct?
An image in a quiz
Vibrations only occur if you shake an object.
Vibrations are produced when an object is completely still.
Correct answer: Vibrations and sounds can be made in many ways such as banging and blowing.