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Session 14: Sound Engineering 🎵

Overview

Grades: 1-2 | Duration: 30 minutes | Session: 14 of 17

Students explore the science of sound and engineer their own musical instruments to praise God.

Session 14: Sound Engineering

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand that sound is made by vibrations

  • Experiment with pitch (high/low) and volume (loud/soft)

  • Design and build a simple instrument

  • Connect music to praising God

Session 14: Sound Engineering

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Rubber bands (various sizes)

  • 📦 Boxes, containers, cardboard tubes

  • 📦 Rice, beans (for shakers)

  • 📦 Paper, plastic cups

  • 🎵 Simple instruments for demonstration

  • 📓 Engineering journals

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Cecilia — Patron saint of music! She sang to God even in difficult times.

Scripture

"Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre... praise him with strings and pipe." — Psalm 150:3-4

Opening Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the gift of sound and music. Help us use music to praise you! Like St. Cecilia, may our songs bring joy to heaven. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Sound Investigation — "What IS sound?"
  2. Vibration Demo:
  3. Pluck rubber band — see it shake!
  4. Touch throat while humming — feel vibration!
  5. "Sound happens when things VIBRATE"
  6. High/Low: — Different vibration speeds = different pitches
  7. Loud/Soft: — Big vibrations = loud; small = soft
  8. Today's Goal — "Build an instrument to praise God!"

Main Activity: Instrument Engineering (19 minutes)

Part 1: Sound Exploration (4 minutes)

  • Try different sound makers:
  • Pluck rubber bands of different sizes
  • Shake containers with different contents

  • Blow across bottle tops

  • "What do you notice?"

  • Compare pitches and volumes

Part 2: Design & Build (12 minutes)

Option A: Rubber Band Guitar

  • Stretch rubber bands around a box

  • Try different band sizes

  • Pluck to make music

Option B: Shaker

  • Put rice/beans in container

  • Seal securely

  • Decorate!

Option C: Drum

  • Stretch balloon over cup/can

  • Tap with pencil/straw

  • Try different sizes

Option D: Kazoo

  • Paper tube + wax paper

  • Secure wax paper on end with rubber band

  • Hum into open end

  • All students: Test and improve your instrument

Part 3: Praise Band (3 minutes)

  • All play instruments together

  • Follow teacher's conducting (loud, soft, fast, slow)

  • Sing a simple praise song while playing

Engineering Journal (4 minutes)

  1. Draw your instrument
  2. Label the parts
  3. Write: "Sound is made by..."
  4. Write: "I praise God by..."

Closing Circle (2 minutes)

  1. Sound Science — "What makes sound?"
  2. Praise Connection — "God loves when we make joyful noise!"
  3. Closing Prayer + Music — Play instruments while praying: "Thank you, God, for sound and music! Alleluia! Amen!"

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Understood vibration creates sound

  • Built a working instrument

  • Experimented with pitch/volume

  • Connected music to praising God

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Pre-made instrument to decorate

  • Focus on one instrument type

  • Partner building

For Advanced Students

  • Build multiple instruments

  • Explain the science behind their design

  • Create a band with different sounds

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Make instruments at home using household items! Experiment with pots and pans, rubber bands and boxes, containers with different fillings. Have a family praise concert!

Teacher Notes

  • Consider keeping instruments for future use

  • Great connection to music class

  • Psalm 150 lists many instruments—explore together

  • Digital music connection: simple music apps (GarageBand, Chrome Music Lab)

Previous: Session 13 — Easter Innovation
Next: Session 15 — Robot Challenge