Becoming Scientists
Pioneer Valley Regional School District

Description of Activities (Sound Unit)

• Students received classroom instruction on the properties of sound.
• The speech and language pathologist demonstrated how sound is processed by the human ear.
• Students received small group, hands-on instruction in the use of handhelds.
• Students received small group, hands-on introduction to the use of science probes.
• The whole class participated in a demonstration of sound probes. The Musicians Among Us, Classroom Concert, was a lesson in which the students played musical instruments to produce various sound levels that were recorded and then compared. All students were able to view the information that was displayed using an LCD projector.
• Students began the sound investigation scenario, in which they needed to determine the best place for their teachers to sit at a rock concert.
• Teams of three students recorded sound levels at three distances from a sound source, producing 110 decibels of sound in each of three concert venues: music room, gymnasium, and outdoor amphitheater.
• Students used an AppleWorks spreadsheet to chart and graph their data.
• In a whole class activity, a spreadsheet was used to compile the results from all groups to determine average sound levels.
• For the culminating activity, students analyzed and reported their findings by writing a friendly letter to the teachers, answering the problem proposed in the scenario. Students were required to include information gained from classroom instruction, the human ear presentation, and the data collection activity to recommend the location and the distance at which they think the three teachers would enjoy the rock and roll concert.

Additional activity for light and sound units
Do sound and light waves pass through solids? In this scenario Ms. Bruno has invented a contraption that can shrink students! She shrinks a student and places the student inside a box. When in the box, can the student dance to the music being played outside of the box? Can that student read a book using the light from a flashlight being shined at a box? To discover the answer, a sound sensor is placed inside a box and then taped securely so that waves are not be able to sneak in through cracks. Music is played and the sound level readings are projected for the class to view as the data is recorded. The same is done with a light sensor and flashlight. Given this authentic evidence, students are generally delighted that their original hypothesis, about which they were not totally certain, is confirmed to be true: sound waves pass through solids, while light waves do not.

Universal Design/Inclusion
A task analysis of each investigation was completed to ensure that all students would be able to master the skills needed to successfully complete these investigations. Tasks were then grouped and given job Description titles: Palm Pilot Operator, Sensor Supervisor, and Investigation Manager. The technology integration specialist provided direct instruction to small groups of students on all tasks for each job Description until mastery of skills was achieved. A FlexCam document camera was used during large group instruction to ensure that all students benefited from instruction. During training sessions as well as during each investigation, students were directed to "Show with words, not hands." This policy was essential in making sure that every student had an opportunity to practice the technology skills.

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