KS3 ~ Year 7 ~ Echoes & Ultrasound

This lesson is designed for the Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 P2 ’Sound’.

For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.

The lesson starts with a definition of an ‘echo’ and how echoes can be produced by ship via sonar and by baby scanners via ultrasound. Students will then consider the ways in which echoes can be reduced and why this might be important in places such as theaters, concert walls & recording studios.

The first activity involves students using a range of materials (tissue paper, cardboard, cotton wool, bubble wrap, paper, plastic) to soundproof a margarine tub, which will hold a buzzer and a decibel meter. Each group can test how well they have soundproofed their margarine tub, perhaps a prize for the best one! Once this has been complete students can write an evaluation for their practical, they will need to consider which part of their practical were carried out well , how the findings could be improved and what they would do differently if it was done again.

Next, students will be given a piece of information on ‘Ultrasound’ - using this they will need to answer a set of questions in their books. This task can be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided in the books.

The last task is a crossword on ‘Sound’, students should use knowledge of that they have learned over the course of the topic on sound to answer the clues and complete the crossword. The task can be assessed using the mark scheme provided.

The plenary requires students to complete one of the selection of sentence starters to summarise what they have learned so far this lesson.

All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)