Sounds Around the Kitchen

Sounds Around the Kitchen

Skills

observe

communicate

compare

organize

Materials

ball of string

scissors

collection of kitchen objects like: large metal spoons, small metal spoons, slotted spoons, metal cooking racks, large wooden spoons, mixer beaters, wire whisks, salad tongs, and assorted plastic utensils such as spoons, spatulas, etc. Make sure tha t your collection includes kitchen objects made of metal, wood and plastic.

1 pencil or metal teaspoon for each pair of participants.

Doing the Activity

To get ready for this activity - Make one 2 foot length of string for each object in your kitchen collection. Tie each object in the center of the string.

Introduce the activity by saying - In your kitchen there are many things that make sounds. Name some sounds you hear in the kitchen. What makes the sound? Name some sounds you like that come from your kitchen. Name some sounds you don't like.

If you have a large metal spoon what kind of sounds do you think it could make? Let's find out!

Let's try out a special way to listen to the sound for a metal spoon or any of the items in your kitchen collection. Wrap the ends of the string once or twice around the tip of each index finger and pinch the string. Bring your fingers up to your ea rs, as if you were plugging them, then lean your body forward. Make sure that the object and the string dangle freely and don't catch on anything.

Ask your partner to gently tap on the dangling object with a pencil.

Listen and describe to your partner what sound it makes.

Let your partner try to hear the sound. Discuss what they heard.

Try other objects from the kitchen collection. Discuss what sound you think it will make and then try the object. Discuss what you hear.

Talking it over

Describe the sounds that you heard from the different objects.

How were the sounds alike? How were they different?

Sort the objects by the sounds they made. What do you notice about the objects in each group?

Can you sort the objects in other ways?

What's Happening

Sound travels in waves. These sound waves can travel through air, water, wood, even along a piece of string. Sound waves can produce a brilliant chiming, loud clanging, or soft whir.

More Challenges

Can you find objects in other rooms of your house that would make sounds? Make a musical instrument of your own. Can you play a song? See if you can find other people to play your instrument with to form a band.

Activity Source

Y.E.S. Kitchen Science, Regents of the University of California, 1996 DRAFT.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

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	Sounds Around the Kitchen
	Skills observe communicate compare organize
	Materials ball of string scissors collection of kitchen objects like: large metal spoons, small metal spoons, slotted spoons, metal cooking racks, large wooden spoons, mixer beaters, wire whisks, salad tongs, and assorted plastic utensils such as spoons, spatulas, etc. Make sure tha t your collection includes kitchen objects made of metal, wood and plastic. 1 pencil or metal teaspoon for each pair of participants.
	Doing the Activity To get ready for this activity - Make one 2 foot length of string for each object in your kitchen collection. Tie each object in the center of the string. Introduce the activity by saying - In your kitchen there are many things that make sounds. Name some sounds you hear in the kitchen. What makes the sound? Name some sounds you like that come from your kitchen. Name some sounds you don't like. If you have a large metal spoon what kind of sounds do you think it could make? Let's find out! Let's try out a special way to listen to the sound for a metal spoon or any of the items in your kitchen collection. Wrap the ends of the string once or twice around the tip of each index finger and pinch the string. Bring your fingers up to your ea rs, as if you were plugging them, then lean your body forward. Make sure that the object and the string dangle freely and don't catch on anything. Ask your partner to gently tap on the dangling object with a pencil. Listen and describe to your partner what sound it makes. Let your partner try to hear the sound. Discuss what they heard. Try other objects from the kitchen collection. Discuss what sound you think it will make and then try the object. Discuss what you hear.
	Talking it over Describe the sounds that you heard from the different objects. How were the sounds alike? How were they different? Sort the objects by the sounds they made. What do you notice about the objects in each group? Can you sort the objects in other ways?
	What's Happening Sound travels in waves. These sound waves can travel through air, water, wood, even along a piece of string. Sound waves can produce a brilliant chiming, loud clanging, or soft whir.
	More Challenges Can you find objects in other rooms of your house that would make sounds? Make a musical instrument of your own. Can you play a song? See if you can find other people to play your instrument with to form a band.
	Activity Source Y.E.S. Kitchen Science, Regents of the University of California, 1996 DRAFT.