Explore a variety of instruments and materials and investigate how the length of a vibrating object compares to the pitch it makes. Options include paint sticks, tuning forks, recorders, and a guitar. Kids gain first-hand knowledge of this concept: that longer instruments make lower pitches.
 
What's Included:
✅ Instructions written directly to the student
✅ Student Sheet for capturing observations
✅ Answer Key to Student Sheet
✅ Teacher Notes with prep, set up, and explanations.
 
This Resource Is Great For:
❑ Whole class activity
❑ Group work
❑ Station work
 
Questions Answered:
How does the size of an object affect the pitch it makes when it vibrates?
What happens to the pitch of a guitar string as it is shortened?
What happens to the pitch of a recorder as more and more holes are covered?
 
Topics & Concepts Addressed:
Longer (and larger) objects vibrate with lower natural frequencies than smaller ones. The longer a guitar string is, the lower the note will be.
The more holes you cover on a recorder, the lower the note it will make.
 
Materials Needed
Tuning forks, Rubber bands, Paint sticks, Guitar, Recorders, Xylophone
 
Preparation Needed
gather materials