The Sound of Science


Educational Innovations Blog

By Jared Hottenstein

Any teacher will tell you that kids can be noisy.  They make all kinds of sounds.  Clap their hands.  Click their tongues.  Snap their fingers.  Smack their cheeks.  Burp.  Fart.  Scream.  Sing. Most classrooms are a virtual cacophony of noises.   And where there is sound, there’s bound to be a whole lot of shaking going on.  So why not turn those noises into a teachable moment and explore the science of sound?   

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Sound and Waves in the News


Sound and Waves in the News - Educational Innovations BlogWant to get your students revved up over the science of sound?  This area of science has so much to explore, with more advances every day.  Enjoy this collection of news related to recent discoveries about sound and waves.

If you find an interesting article on this subject, please share it with us in the comments below!

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Sound and Waves TV


Sound and Waves TV - Educational Innovations Blog

Most of us know what a sound is… but what’s the science behind it?  And what can you do with sound (besides listen to it)?  Plenty!  We’ve selected some fascinating videos that explore the science of sound and waves.  One of the most fascinating things about these videos is that they demonstrate how many unexpected ways we use sound—in our daily lives, in the lab, and beyond.

If you’ve enjoyed other videos on this topic, please share them with us!

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Sound and Waves Lesson


Lesson - Educational Innovations BlogTeaching about sound is so much fun!   It’s a concept that even the youngest learners can understand.

There are so many ways to introduce the topic—from waves and amplitude to sonic booms or quantum physics!  Below you will find one of our favorite introductory lessons.  Use it with students of any age to present the idea that sound is, essentially, a result of air molecules vibrating.

If you come across any lessons you’d like to share, please leave us a comment below!

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Sound and Waves Discussion Starters


Sound and Waves Discussion Starters - Educational Innovations NewsletterIf a tree falls in a forest and there’s no one to hear it, will it still make a sound?  This is an old question, but what’s the answer?  Sound can be a difficult concept to portray because the waves cannot easily be seen or touched.  What is sound, and why do we care about it?  There is plenty of vocabulary associated with sound waves, including frequency, amplitude, longitudinal waves, transverse waves… the list goes on.  So how do you introduce and teach this topic?  We scoured the Internet for great ideas.  Hope you enjoy them!

If you have other ideas or websites you’d like to share, please write to us in the Comments section below. Read the rest of this entry »