STEM Concept: Sound and Engineering Design
Vibrating matter can make sounds and sound can make matter vibrate.
People use a variety of devices to communicate (send and receive information).
Developing and Optimizing Design Solutions
This Storytime STEM-Pack includes all the materials you need to engage kids in science activities that explore how vibrating matter can make sound, and how sound can travel through an object. Children apply this learning to engage in an engineering design task. After reading the popular children’s book The Snail and the Whale, children work in teams of four to design a communication device to help solve a problem on the speedboat out at sea. Included in this set, you'll find:
- Detailed instructions (i.e., lesson plan) for the learning activities
- 1 paper cup, 1 piece of string, 1 paper clips, 1 metal spoon, 1 pencil, to make a spoon gong system,
- 12 paper cups, 12 plastic cups, 12 foam cups
- 1 roll of heavy cotton twine
- 1 roll of thin cotton twine
- 1 roll of masking tape
- 1 box of paper clips
- Communication Cards (6 small problem cards)
- 1 Engineering Design Concept Card (8.5x11)
- Word wall cards to use in context
- A copy of The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
The entire activity takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. This STEM-pack is suitable for grades K-2.