Sound Sandwich
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Description
With a straw, two craft sticks, and some rubber bands, construct a noisemaker called a Sound Sandwich and explore how vibration produces sound. Instructions for the activity can be downloaded from the web page, which also features three short online videos: Introduction, Step-by-Step Instructions, and What's Going On. Also available for download: a concept map and a "Going Further" document that suggests variations on this activity.
Quick Guide
- Preparation Time: 5 to 10 minutes
- Learning Time: 10 to 30 minutes
- Estimated materials cost: 1 cent - $1 per student
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Age Range: Ages 8 - 14
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Resource Type: Activity
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Language: English
Materials List (per student)
- 2 jumbo craft sticks (or tongue depressors)
- a straw
- a wide rubber band (#64 size)
- 2 smaller, narrower rubber bands
- scissors
Subjects
Informal Categories
- Music
- Toys
Subjects
- Physical Sciences
- Vibration and Waves
- Wave Motion
- Sound
- Vibration and Waves
Audience
To use this activity learners need to
- see
- hear
- touch
Learning styles supported
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource
This resource is part of
Funding sources
- National Science Foundation
Comments
Sound Sandwich was part of the hands-on STEM fun at the 2013 annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
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In my son's K/1 class, the teachers organized an end of year birthday celebration on one afternoon for all the kids who have summer birthdays (and couldn't celebrate during the school year.) Sound Sandwiches were the perfect activity! The kids learned how to make them first during circle time. Then, the teacher asked the kids to go through again step-by-step what was the procedure for making it, while she wrote the instructions clearly on the board. (This advanced preview was also helpful for the other parent class helpers.) Then, the kids moved to their work tables. There were Sharpie pens (permanent markers) in baby food jars in the center of the tables so kids could write their names on them first. (No sharing germs!) After they were made, the teacher took the kids outside for a Sound Sandwich parade!
[img_assist|nid=12791|title=Demonstrating Sound Sandwich|desc=I am making a sound sandwich during circle time while my son looks on. He is proudly wearing his birthday crown.|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]
Tried this activity in my junkies workshop with candystiks and strawpipes ... Kids enjoy it !!
I have done this with many different ages and groups and everyone loves it! One thing we have tried is stacking them (like a double and triple hamburger) and placing the straws in different locations so we can play numerous tones with them and move back and forth quickly.
It's impossible to take yourself too seriously with these...they are terrific and hilarious.
This is so transportable, quick, and fun that is is becoming the "go to" activity for workshops!
I agree
Wondering if this activity could be extended further by using rubber bands and their vibrations to make other sounds like stretching them various amounts over different shapes...
Fun, simple, cheap and potentially really annoying - what more could you want from an activity?
A great partner for the Straw Flute:
http://www.howtosmile.org/record/507
Maybe it is time for a list...
We used this activity as a hands on for an exhibit on sound. It was a great, easy and cheap take away. Kids loved it.
Just got a great tweak of the sound sandwich from someone from Sci-port!! Instead of a rubber band for the vibrating piece use a thin strip of card stock. Use TWO straw pieces on each side to sandwich the card stock. Now blow to hear a super high pitched sound!!!
This is a really good activity, and it went over well at Maker Faire too. It was popular with both children and adults.
Because I wanted the Sound Sandwiches to be festive, I got a bag of those pre-dyed craft sticks to match the colored rubberbands. The kids went to try them out and their lips turned a mix of blue, red, green, yellow...AND the dye tasted awful. Stick to the natural wood craft sticks.
This activity is fun and easy to do with a large group of kids moving through a station.