Ready for action?
Resources
Downloadable Resources
Decibel Meter app on a smartphone (Apple, Google Play).
Tangible Resources
Pen and paper, smartphone.
Preparation
Generate the table, identify walking route and prepare the phone application.
Goals, messages & concepts
Specific goals
- To plan and execute a scientific experiment, collecting data at home and around school.
- To study sound intensity levels, test noise sources, compare sounds and draw accurate conclusions.
Specific messages
- Sound intensity can be studied using the scientific method.
Main terms
- decibel
- data
- analysis
- conclusion
Practices & skills
STEM practices
- Analysing and interpreting data
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
- Asking questions and defining problems
- Planning and carrying out investigations
Soft skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
Management skills
- Planning
Course of activity
step 1
Students will conduct an experiment by collecting noise measurements from places around their homes and local area. They will identify a variety of places they could collect data.
step 2
They will prepare a table to collect data from the following experiment.
step 3
Students will conduct noise measurements at home and in their local area using a decibel meter application on a smartphone.
step 4
Students will then agree on a walking route around the school. On this route there should be places with different levels of noise (including taking measurements in the vicinity of screens, at different distances). They will collect data along this route to add to their home research.
step 5
Students will assemble their data in a table, analyse it by comparing the types and origin of sounds and their intensity, etc., and formulate conclusions.