Rattlesnake Eggs!

Explore animal adaptations, while playing a prank on your class! All you need is an envelope, one paperclip, and a rubber band. When someone opens the envelope, they jump back because the sound of a rattlesnake projects from inside!

Click here for a video tutorial (easy construction: 3 materials)
Check out the prank in action here! (Instructions with metal washer or button)
Instructions here using 2 clips
Instructions with soda cap

After you scare everyone, ask kids, "Why do rattlesnakes have a special tail?"

Musical Fractions

Kids explore fractions, while writing a colorful melody, without even knowing how to read music! Fill glasses up with different fractions of water and add food coloring. Provide students with paper to write their songs. Have kids make a hypothesis about why the glasses of water project different sounds. Is it the color of the water: No! Kids will be wowed at how water level makes an impact on the sound that projects from each glass. The fraction of water in each glass produces a different pitch.

Let's Rock - Sound Energy

Explore the science of sound by creating your very own rock band of recyclables!
Sound Wave Experiments - ehow
Featured Above:
1. Kazoo -Martha Stewart
2. Tin Can Phone - DSO Kids / Bongo - Sophie's World
3. Membranophone - Exploratorium
4. Zither - ehow
5. Pan Pipe Flute - Krieger Science
More:
Sound Sandwich - Exploratorium
Scientific Sound Effects - E is for Explore - Make Music
Whirly Twirly Sound Hose: Explore

H2O Band

Let children explore with sound and water, combining science with music.



Get creative with your materials, listen to changes in pitch and tone. Explore rhythm, pattern, and tempo. For the science behind this, as well as a list of materials in the video, visit Child's Play Music

Non-Newtonian Glop aka Oobleck

Non-Newtonian Glop, Oobleck, Cornstarch Quicksand, they're all the same strange substance that make us question: Is it a liquid or a solid?! You can smack it, walk on it, punch it, and try to roll it into a ball. Yet, it still drips off of your fingertips. 

Now, are you ready to make your own?! You can find instructions at Steve Spangler.

Steve Spangler tested oobleck on a speaker and it danced! Above is a photo from Housing a Forest's experiment. They added color to their oobleck! Visit Housing a Forest and Steve Spangler for instructions!

Whirly: Twirl Sound Hose

Make music with a fluted sink pipe or irrigation tubing from the hardware store. Try out different sized pipes. What makes the best sound?

"Try attaching a plastic bag to the end of your Sound Hose with tape or a rubber band. With your mouth a few millimeters from the Sound Hose, blow into the open end.  The bag will inflate with just a few big breaths. Once the bag is inflated, twirl your Sound Hose.  As the "music" plays from the hose, watch the bag deflate"! via Steve Spangler

Soda Straw Oboe

illustration via sciencebuddies.org

Visit Physics.Org for instructions! Then, head over to Science Buddies to find out how you can turn this into a science fair project!

Buzz Noise Maker

Scientific Sound Effects

Make a balloon scream with a hex nut or coins! Visit Steve Spangler for the explanation behind screaming science! For screaming balloon instructions click here!