Third graders have had experiences changing the length of a sound source, making observations about how length and pitch are connected.

Our next steps...seeing how tension affects pitch!

Tension is a force that pulls an object in opposite directions.  Using stringed instruments as a focus, third graders are changing the tension in the string to see what happens to the pitch.  

Does making the string more tense make the pitch higher or lower?  What if we reduce the tension?

Our next focus regarding sound is exploring pitch!  Pitch is caused by the frequency of vibrations.  A high frequency of vibrations means the vibrations are traveling quickly in a specific time frame.  Therefore, we hear a high-pitched note.  A low frequency means the vibrations are traveling slower and travel less frequently within a time frame.  Therefore, we hear a lower-pitched note.  

Third graders are exploring this relationship with sound sources of differing lengths.  They are using waterphones, xylophones, kalimbas, and sting beams.  They are starting to see patterns between the length of the sound sources and the pitches they hear!  Keep up the great work third grade!