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Begin unit by viewing The Magic School Bus and the Haunted Museum.

After viewing and discussing terms from the video, do the following sound experiments:
Using a slinky, discuss vibration with high and low sounds an use the slinky to demonstrate the different vibrations dealing with length and tightness/looseness. Use hands and make hand tunnels to experiment with clapping and talking, and relate to vibrations. Discuss echoes, and ask discussion questions such as: I echo in the gym and my room has four walls, so why don't I don't echo in here?

Then, print off the Magic School Bus and The Haunted Museum sound print-off from the Scholastic Web-Site: www.scholastic.com.

Do the experiment with the print-off and have students record predictions and observations on the print-off. Then have the students follow the directions to either make or draw their original instrument and write how the sound is created.

Next, if available, do various sound activities as a class with the Magic School Bus and The House of Sound computer program. Activities both test knowledge, as well as help in exploring sound and concepts.

End the unit with sound centers. I have five centers which the students rotate through:
• Click and Experiment About Sound (Computer - using Magic School Bus Program: I use the "Sound Mixer" and "Vibration" experiments on the program),
• Read About Sound (Book and experiments - students follow directions on the "From Ms. Frizzle" page),
• Instruments and Sound (experimenting with different instruments, drawing vibrations, and classifying sounds),
• Name that Sound: Students use a sound tape and identify sounds on the tape,
• Make a Tune With Water: Students use bottles of water and add and take away water to match pitches of a tuning fork, boomwhacker, handchime, and triangle.

Different centers incorporate science, language arts, technological skills, and listening skills with music in the music classroom.

I have a sound center of the day chart, where one group in each class is declared sound center of the day based on participation, behavior, following directions, etc. Each sound center of the day has their "star" displayed for their class on the chart, and receives a sticker/eraser/good slip/etc.

E-Mail Michele Slone!