Musical instruments and pitch
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how the pitch of sounds can be changed on a variety of musical instruments.
Key learning points
- Many musical instruments can make different pitched sounds.
- Changing the length of the vibrating object can affect the pitch of the sound it produces.
- Larger vibrating objects make lower pitched sounds. Smaller vibrating objects make higher pitched sounds.
Keywords
Musical instrument - A musical instrument is an object that produces musical sounds.
Pitched - How pitched a sound is tells us how high or how low it is.
Vibrations - Vibrating is when an object moves very fast from side to side.
Affect - When a change occurs between two things, we can observe how one thing affects another.
Common misconception
Children may think that larger and longer objects vibrating produce louder sounds, without linking this to the pitch of sounds.
If working at school, empty the cupboard of as many musical instruments you can find to explore and demonstrate with. Encourage children who play musical instruments to share their experiences too.
Teacher tip
Sound meters that detect pitch of sounds, such as Google Science Journal, can be downloaded for free to use on tablets and other electronic devices.
Equipment
A range of musical instruments and/or everyday objects to make musical sounds with. Sound meters (including free pitch-meter apps) to detect pitch.
Content guidance
Exploration of objects
Exploration of objects
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is happening to the skin of the drum when it is making a sound? The drum skin is ...
Q2.What is the scientific name for how high or low sounds are?
Q3.Izzy blows into a paper straw to make a buzzing sound. What is vibrating to make the sound?
Q4.Izzy thinks that changing the length of the straw may change how high or low the sound is. Which statement do you agree with?
Q5.What equipment can be used to measure pitch?
Q6.Match the unit of measurement to what it measures.
hertz
decibels
lux
minutes
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these objects is a musical instrument?
Q2.Which statement about musical instruments is true?
Q3.Which drum will produce the lowest pitch sound?
Q4.Jacob plays the recorder. Which statement do you agree with?
Q5.What happens to the pitch of a guitar string when your finger moves down the fingerboard?
Q6.Jacob fills bottles with different amounts of water. He blows over the top of each bottle to produce a musical sound. Which statement below do you agree with?
To help you plan your 4 science lesson on: Musical instruments and pitch, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 science lesson on: Musical instruments and pitch, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Introduction to sound unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.