Search Results
Showing results 1 to 20 of 21

Matraca
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners create a traditional Mexican noisemaker (a matraca) using cardboard, craft sticks, and a wooden dowel.

Engineered Music
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how musical instruments are engineered.

The Electric Squeeze
Source Institutions
In this activity/demo about piezoelectricity, learners discover how some crystals produce electricity when squeezed.

Clap Sensor: Build a Sound Sensor Using a Pico Cricket
Source Institutions
This activity requires a Pico Cricket (tiny computer). Learners work on designing and building a sound sensor out of household materials, like plastic wrap and cardboard.

Sound Representation: Modems Unplugged
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners listen to songs and decode hidden messages based on the same principle as a modem. As a final challenge, learners decode the binary messages in a music video.

Build a Band
Source Institutions
In this design challenge activity, learners build a four-stringed instrument that can play a tune.

Woodpecker
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners construct a traditional handicraft toy that illustrates a motion commonly associated with violins and earthquakes.

Wandering Wands
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners construct wands that play different notes depending on information from light sensors programmed via a PICO Cricket.

Sound Automata
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build their own sound machines and explore the interplay of motion and sound.

Vocal Visualizer
Source Institutions
With a bit of PVC, a laser, a can/cup, and a small mirror, you can make a device that visualizes you voice or any sound transmitted into the cup/can.

Yogurt Cup Speakers
Source Institutions
Learners build a simple electromagnet, then use this electromagnet to transform a yogurt container into a working speaker. They can connect their speaker to a radio and listen as it transmits sound.

How to Make an Audio Tape Bow
Source Institutions
From this How To slide show, you create an Audio Tape Bow that can play distorted audio sounds by running it across a tape head.

Headphone Helper
Source Institutions
In this design challenge activity, learners add headphones to a previously built instrument (see "Build a Band" activity) to make it easier to hear.

Make Pan Pipes
Source Institutions
This is a simple activity for learners to create a traditional musical instrument. Pan Pipes have developed all over the world in different cultures, from South America to Greece and China.

Let's Make Music
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners will create their own percussion instrument with recycled materials. Learners will explore design, fabrication, cause and effect and sound through this activity.

Slide Whistle
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build a slide whistle using PVC pipe, bamboo skewer, and piece of foam. Construction of the instrument is relatively simple.

Soggy Science, Shaken Beans
Source Institutions
Learners explore soybeans, soak them in water to remove their coat, and then split them open to look inside. They also make a musical shaker out of paper cups, a cardboard tube, and soybeans.

Torsion Drum
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build a musical drum using a cardboard tube, plastic wrap, and beads.

Energetic Musical Instruments
Source Institutions
Learners design and create musical instruments from common objects; their challenge is to create an instrument that can make three different tones.

Make a Speaker
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how an electromagnet works by making a simple one. Using this knowledge, learners design a diagram to make a working speaker using household materials.