Physics Project: Create your own musical instrument to learn about sound

This task is a mini physics project that requires students to apply their knowledge of sound to create a musical instrument.

Students are asked to:

• Summarise key ideas about how instruments produce sound
• Describe the difference between wind/string instruments
• Create an instrument using scrap materials around the home
• Identify the notes that their instrument produces
• Refine and adjust their instrument to play particular notes
• Play a song with their instrument

The resource is ideal for students working at different levels as the task gradually increases in difficulty. Teachers may choose to differentiate by providing access to only parts of this assessment based on student ability levels.

The resource also includes links to additional supporting resources.

This resources is well suited to set for students during home isolation, cross-curricular contexts, and project based learning contexts.

Key skills students will practice in this task include: summarising, communicating scientific ideas, applying physics concepts in practice, thinking critically and creatively, problem solving, and understanding the design process.