Sounds You Can See

Materials

• A hand drum with one open side 
• A few grains of uncooked rice
• 10" (22.5 cm) cookie tin with plastic wrap secured over the top 
• A plastic ruler
• Wind up clock or a timer with a long ring
• Shallow plate with water to cover the bottom

What to do

1. Ask the children if they can see sound. You may find there are some misconceptions about seeing the sound and seeing what produces the sound.

2. Put a spoonful of rice on top of the plastic wrap. Hold the drum above and near the cookie tin.

3. Ask the children what they think will happen to the rice when you hit the drum. Some may say that it will move. If so, query why.

4. Hit the drum and watch the rice dance.

5. Tell the children that when you hit the drum it made vibrations that they could see and hear.

6. Place the timer in a shallow plate of water. Wind and allow to ring. Point out to the children how they can see the water vibrate and hear the timer ring.

7. Place the ruler half way off the table. Place one hand over the end on the table. Give the other end a slap. Point out to the children that they can see the ruler vibrate and hear the sound it makes.

More to do

• More science: Record various sounds that are familiar to the children. Have pictures of the sounds for the children to choose from. As you play the sound let the children touch the picture.

-Michele Wistisen, Casper, WY