Download Lesson Plan

Do You Hear What I Hear?
Lesson plan developed by Erin Cziraki
Some activities taken from “Your Ears” at http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/ears.html
and “Dangerous Decibels” at http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/virtualexhibit/index.html
Overview:
This lesson is designed as a class investigation into how we hear, sound frequencies, and sound
loudness. The students will also learn about how sound can be dangerous and learn about ways
to protect against hearing loss.
Inquiry Level: 2
Standards:
8-1.3 Construct explanations and conclusions from interpretations of data obtained during a
controlled scientific investigation.
8-6.5 Explain hearing in terms of the relationship between sound waves and the ear.
8-6.3 Summarize factors that influence the basic properties of waves (including
frequency, amplitude, wavelength, and speed).
Performance Objectives:
 The students will be able to explain hearing in terms of the relationship between sound
waves and the ear.
 The students will develop a cause-and-effect model that shows the functions of the three
main parts of the ear and how they transmit and transfer sound waves for hearing to occur
in the brain.
o recognize the three main parts of the ear.
o summarize how each part transfers sounds waves to the brain for interpretation.
o interpret a diagram of the ear.
 The students will be able to explain the relationship between frequency and pitch and
between amplitude and loudness.
 The students will be able to explain how hearing loss can occur in terms of how sound
can cause damage to the ear and identify ways to protect the ear from dangerous sounds.
Hook:
Create a model of the ear drum by stretching some plastic wrap over a large bowl or pot. Place
20-30 grains of rice on top of the plastic wrap. Bang a cookie sheet near the “ear drum” to cause
the plastic wrap to vibrate and the grains of rice to jump around. Challenge the students to
explain what part of hearing your model demonstrates. You will return to the model again at the
end of the lesson.
Body of Lesson Plan
Concept Exploration:
Materials:
A couple sheets of paper
Coins in a glass jar or beaker
A large book to close
A ball to bounce
Any other materials desired to make noises to be identified
Student Activity Packet for each student
After the students are finished formulating explanations for the model shown in the Hook, have
everyone close their eyes. One at a time, make a sound for the class to identify and have them
write their guesses on their paper. Some examples of noises to make: tear or crumple a piece of
paper, jingle change in a glass jar, close a large book, clap your hands, or bounce a ball.
Ask the students how they did identifying the sounds. Also, ask how they were able to tell what
you were doing/using even though they had their eyes closed. Some questions to ask:
o How was the sound created? (I created a vibration in the air molecules)
o What kind of a wave is sound? (Mechanical). Why? (Must have a medium in which
to travel).
o How did the sound get from me to you? (Travelled though the air- its medium).
o What happened to the sound once it reached you? (This is where the students are
challenged to try to explain hearing. Let them propose explanations but don’t correct
them yet).
Next, play or create two sounds with different frequencies. You could use this website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_frequency and play “Middle C” and “Highest note for flute”.
Have the students write down their observations and explain the differences between the two
sounds.
Now play or create two sounds with different amplitudes or loudness. You can do this by simply
turning the volume up or down on your computer and playing one of the sounds from the
example above. Again, have the students write down their observations and explain the
differences between the two sounds.
Concept Introduction:
Divide the class into groups and have them use their text books to do some research on the ear
and hearing. Blank diagram to be labeled is provided in their packet and they also need to
summarize the functions of the three parts of the ear. The students will also read about how
frequency related to pitch and how amplitude related to loudness. Give the students a set amount
of time (15 minutes) to complete this section.
After the time is up, review the diagram and concepts as a class. Return to the model ear drum
you showed the class in the beginning and have them explain the model.
Using the Interwrite Pad, have volunteers draw a diagram for a low pitch sound and a high pitch
sound. The normal range for human hearing is 20-20,000Hz.
Have volunteers draw a diagram for a soft sound and a loud sound. Explain how the higher
amplitudes of the loud sound exert more force on the ear drum and more energy is transferred to
the middle and inner ear.
o Loudness of sound is measured in decibels
o Sounds up to 85 decibels are considered safe and can be listened to for unlimited
amount of time
o Sounds of 85 decibels and above are considered dangerous and can only be
listened to for a short amount of time
o Sounds of 130 decibels and above cause instant damage to the ear
Explain how loud sounds can cause damage to the ear and hearing loss. Have the students come
up with examples of how to protect their ears from loud sounds.
Concept Application:
As a class, play the challenge game found at
http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/virtualexhibit/3howloudistooloud.html and have the students
fill in the “decibel meter” with examples as you go.
Also, have the students complete the Challenge Questions on the last page of their packet.
Evaluation/Assessment
The teacher can collect the Challenge Questions which can be graded to assess the students’
understanding of the properties and behavior of waves. This understanding can also be evaluated
during the review session after the activities have been completed.
Teacher notes:
This lesson plan is designed for one 75 minute period.
Although this lesson was designed for one class period, it took most classes 2 periods to
complete. The students got really interested in the ear and we had some good discussions on
hearing impairments, infections, and different injuries.