A Cup Of Sound
(Level: Elementary)

This activity demonstrates how different variables affect the pitch of the sound produced by a cup made from a variety of materials. It is an example of a "slip-stick" method of generating sounds.

File: Cup of Sound.pdf (111K)

Are We Hearing the Same Thing?
(Level: High School)

This activity demonstrates the effect of a medium (air versus water) on the reception of sound. Using a pipe or a hose, sounds are produced in the air and in the water. These sounds are analyzed qualitatively (verbal descriptions) and then quantitatively (measuring frequency, wavelength, and amplitude) using a microphone, a hydrophone, and a computer with a sound analysis program. The students will present to the class the sounds they heard and the effects of medium on those sounds.

File: Hearing Same Thing.pdf (18K)

Cavitation, Anyone?
(Level: Middle School)

In this set of three activities, students will investigate how marine animals use non-vocal sounds. Students will look at the ways humans use non-vocal sounds and compare them to the ways marine animals use non-vocal sounds.
Note: You will need to download and print all 4 files to complete this activity.

File 1: cavitation_anyone.pdf (26K)
File 2: cavitation_anyone_1.pdf (6K)
File 3: cavitation_anyone_2.pdf (7K)
File 4: cavitation_anyone_3.pdf (10K)
File 5: Daily Bread sound clip (311K)

Do You Hear What I Hear? or Do Ocean Animals Produce and Use Sound Like We Do?
(Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School)

This activity demonstrates the variety of sounds marine animals use to communicate. Students listen to marine animal sounds and compare them to human communication. The activity includes listening to audio files and using fill-in-blank, Venn diagram, or compare/contrast format.

File: Do You Hear.pdf (142K)

How to Build a Hydrophone
(Level: High School)

It was once thought that the oceans were a silent place. However, if you were to drop a hydrophone or underwater microphone into the water, you would soon discover that the underwater world is quite noisy. A hydrophone picks up acoustic signals and then transfers the sounds into a receiver that allows you to hear them. The following instructions allow you to inexpensively (under $40) build your own hydrophone. Use this hydrophone to hear sounds in your aquarium or go down to the beach and drop it in the water.

File 1: hydrophone_activity_diagram.pdf (192K)
File 2: hydrophone_instruc_w_image.pdf (2.9MB)
File 3: hydrophone_ instruc_wo_image.pdf (193K)
Or visit a website with illustrated directions.

Humpback Whales: The Great Communicator of the Sea
(Level: Elementary, Middle School)

Includes two activities that engage students in a creative understanding of how humpback whales communicate using sound. The first activity investigates acoustic communication using the body. Students choreograph and perform message movement phrases. The second activity explores communication through vocalization. In this activity, the students compose and perform songs.

File 1: Great Communicator.pdf (145K)
File 2: GC_WorksheetA.pdf (79K)
File 3: GC_WorksheetB.pdf (78K)

"In Other Words...." or How Do Dolphins Sense Their Environment?
(Level: Middle School)

Includes two activities that demonstrate how dolphins gather information about their environment. In the first activity, students communicate information to one another using vocalizations and their bodies, but not words. In the second activity, students attempt to locate a dropped object using only their hearing. Students fill in data tables and answer discussion questions as they complete each of the two activities. Extensions are included for the elementary and high school levels.

File: In Other Words.pdf (112K)

On the Trail of a Whale
(Level: Middle School, High School)

In this activity students will learn that different whales make different vocalizations. They will also discover how scientists can track whales by listening for their vocalizations.

File: Trail of Whale.pdf (89K)

Thinking Inside the Box
(Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School)

This is a hands-on inquiry activity that allows students to discover how scientists and researchers use sonar to explore the seafloor. Students and/or teachers build a model of the seafloor out of a copy paper box. Students will collect data from the model and organize it using grids and data tables by hand on paper and by computer with Excel. Students will use the data collected to create and build 2 and 3 dimensional topographical maps and graphs. All directions, patterns, grids and charts can be printed for this standards based activity. Note: You will need to print out the following files to complete this activity.

File 1: Box directions.pdf (145K)
File 2: Box directions2.pdf (82K) - for best results print out on 11 x 17 paper
File 3: Inside the Box wksht.pdf (11K)
File 4: Inside the Box Elementary.pdf (281K) OR Inside the Box Middle/High.pdf (303K)