Designing a Sound-Reducing Wall

by: Kendra Erk, John Lumkes, Jill Shambach, Larry Braile, Anne Brickler, and Anna Matthys
edited by: Linda Froschauer

In this chapter, students explore engineering with a fun challenge. To help students better understand sound in a fun and engaging way, an engineering design–based science learning activity was conducted that is appropriate for a third- or fourth-grade classroom. In this activity, student teams were challenged to design, construct, and test a sound-reducing wall created from common classroom materials. This activity allowed students to explore the sound-absorbing or sound-reflecting properties of different types of materials, providing connections between science concepts and real-world experiences. Overall, this science activity exposes elementary students to the engineering design process of brainstorming, planning, building, and testing. A materials list, teacher background information, outcomes, assessments, and extensions are provided. This book selection includes the Table of Contents, Introduction, Acknowledgment, References, and Index.

Grade Levels

Elementary

Topics

Engineering Physical Science STEM

Details

Type Book ChapterPub Date 5/17/2016Pages 27Stock # PB413X_23

NSTA Press produces classroom-ready activities, hands-on approaches to inquiry, relevant professional development, the latest scientific education news and research, assessment and standards-based instruction.

Learn More