STEMAZing - The Physics and Art of Sound and Music

This was an interesting class and very creative way to spend 3 full days for professional development hours.  

Day 1:
Science behind sound

Ice Breaker; Find someone who...

Different types of intelligences

Science Notebook Questions for the Stations:

Station # ______________

Diagram:

1  1. Describe what you see.

2  2. Describe what you hear.

3  3. What is the source of the vibration?  Label it as the source on your diagram.

4  4. What type of medium is the wave traveling through?  Label this as the medium on your diagram.

    5. In what direction does the wave appear to travel?  Draw its path on your diagram using a line and an arrow to represent the sound wave.

6  6. What happens to the medium as the wave travels?

Round 1:

Salt bounces with the
drumming on a pan nearby

Rubber bands make different pitches
from thickness and tension

Bolts inside of the balloon make a buzzing/humming sound
when you swirl it around...be careful they POP!

Ever played the spoons?
Same idea...

Flapping the rulers (plastic, metal, wood) against
the table with different lengths hanging off.

Water glasses - using a dowel to tap on
bottles with different levels of water

Wrap waxed paper around the
comb and hum into it

Orange part of the bottle is a balloon.  Pull back the
balloon and a gust of air comes out the point.

  

Tap on a tuning fork and hold in a cup of water to see waves.

Tap on the tuning fork and a ball will bounce off of it.

Round 2:

 

This dangerous contraption needs to be swung to hear the buzzing sound.

Telephone...which one is a better sound conductor metal or Styrofoam?

See the waves bounce off of each other like sound waves.

One bottle half full and one empty, blow over them to hear different pitches.

A card flaps when the wheel spins, faster and slower

See the sound in the water waves

Every action has an equal opposite reaction...

Around the room:

Day 2:  Percussion

Making the centers!

Shakers, Shakers, Shakers

 

Rain sticks                                        Tamborine

Winds:

FAIL

 

So funny I cried!!

SUCCESS  

A pan flute that works!  

The secret was a chop stick on each side.

Harmonica - the papers slide and the rubberband goes through the middle

Day 3: Show Time

A joke and then a song with some "choreography"

Strings:

The dowel can be moved to change the rubberband pitch

Strum the rope

Or you can always make the shoe box guitar...we ran out of time for that one :)

Books

·       Carnival of Animals – Saint-Saens

·       The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night – Peter Spier

·       I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello – Barbara S. Garriel

·       Making Musical Instruments with Kids – Bart Hopkin

·       Octopus’s Garden – Ringo Starr

·       Rubber Band Banjos and a Java Jive Bass – Alex Sabbeth

·       This Land is Your Land – Woodie Guthrie

·       Science Experiments with Sound and Music – Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone

·       The Science of Sound – Steve Parker

·       Sounds Interesting – Dr. David Darling

·       Sound Projects with a Music Lab – Robert Gardner

Internet

·       RAFT:  Resource Area for Teachers – www.raft.net

·       RiverTunes – www.rivertunes.net

YouTube

·       Science Please!  Sound is Vibration

·       Bill Nye:  Sound Travels in Waves

·       Magic School Bus in the Haunted House:  Sound is Vibration (short version)

·       Where Music Meets Science Part 1:  Pitch & Frequency

If you want a materials list for any of the projects just ask!

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American Diner

My special end of the year project has been my American Diner
for the past 7 years!  This project was a spin off from my student teaching mentor teacher and it had grown with me each year.  My Diner is quite popular at the school as my students serve lunch to all the staff and parents.  I love to show off how little (and crazy) second graders can become little adults to show what they have learned all year with sit-down restaurant.

To work at my diner students need to learn about American songs, symbols, landmarks, currency, and leaders.  Once they have began reading articles and finding important information to include in their American Workbooks I begin the business stuff.  

Informational articles to 2 column notes to paragraphs.

Students will first apply for their jobs.  My students are only 2nd grade so their work experience and knowledge of their contact information is limited.

After applications I conduct interviews and check references on the spot by calling over their listed classmate and interrogating them :)  Usually they are kind to each other and stay positive, but the honest ones are are the best!!

And then jobs are assigned...I like to have 3 shifts so they can get to try out different jobs and keep them excited for the long hours of food service.  I used Google Docs so I could access it and change it as necessary and review it both at home and at school.

So let's review...

Reading and Summarizing Articles ✔

Applications ✔

Interviews ✔

Jobs Assigned ✔

Parent letter, donations, and Invitations

Parent Letter: I sent home this letter to explain what's going on and what we need donated.

Invitations: Students had to hand write these for all staff and a fancy one to take home to their parents...

 Menu:  We served hot dogs, chips, veggies, cookies, and lemonade.

Hosts Station

That leads me to the decorations, performer songs, and thank you gifts.  What fun would a restaurant be without the ambiance screaming U.S.A.  

Performer Songs:  American Diner Songs collected on YouTube  

1. 50 States that Rhyme  (long version for those dedicated singers)

2. I Love the Mountains  

3. You're A Grand Old Flag

There are others I play for them throughout the last month, but these are the ones they learn for the Diner.

Cashiers Table

Gifts - Stick Flags for all of our visitors!   

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/148055906471724066/

Decorations - begin with posters for each item in their diner books then go crazy with everything American you can find!  Flags, banners, windsocks, table clothes, hats, buttons, confetti, toys, etc.

Students make/decorate aprons as part of their employee uniforms.

And here's what you would see on the Diner Day!

BEFORE: 

DURING:

Thanks for visiting!  If you want to know more about the Diner or my resources please comment below!!

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Sports Fun - My Softball Team

I ❤ Softball!  This year (and last year) I was the coach for my elementary school's softball team.  My team was comprised of 3rd - 6th graders, most of which have no softball or any sports experience. We also had a difficult time getting bats, balls, helmets, and bases with a $0 budget.  Fortunately the high school, Student Council, and a couple really awesome dad's helped us out this year!!

So needless to say, I didn't have a championship team, but I did have a group of kids who learned how to play and to love softball like I do!  

My Assistant coaches and I preparing for a game!
I couldn't coach without them :)

Players prepping and other students there for support

An away game....I love this team photo

Goofy kids!
Their silly picture is better than their "professional" picture!

I took my team to the University of Arizona (it's nice to have a university nearby).  My kids loved to cheer and get the players, who are celebrities to them, to turn around and wave them them!

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Rewarding Students - cooking, lunch, cushions, art

What elementary school kids don't love to spend extra time with their teacher?  Mine all LOVE it so I use it as a reward.  After earning sticker on an extended behavior sticker chart (mines a race track to match my behavior system) students got to scratch a card to see their prize.

 

After the card reveals their reward they can choose when to "cash it in".   Here is cooking activity #1: Making Cheerio Crispy Treats

Recipe

and Ta-Da Microwave Cheerio Crispies!  Here's the recipe: pillsbury.com/recipes/

1  Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.

2  In large microwavable bowl, microwave butter and marshmallows uncovered on High about 2 minutes, stirring after each minute, until mixture is smooth. With pot holders, remove bowl from microwave.

3  Immediately stir in cereal until evenly coated. Press mixture evenly into pan using buttered back of spoon. Cool at least 10 minutes.

4  With table knife, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store in a loosely covered container.

Another microwave treat!  

This one is made from pancake mix :)

Recipe: http://kirbiecravings.com/2013/07/pancake-mug-cake.html

I made it with water since I didnt have milk and it was still delicious!  I also had some toppings for the kids to add in including chocolate chips, blueberries, and sprinkle.

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