Straw Flute Pitch
Three related teacher demonstrations: Straw Flute Pitch, Tuning Fork Makes Water Jump, Water Xylophone.
Teaching & key ideas
1. Straw Flute Pitch
Materials: Several straws cut to different lengths
What you do: Blow across or through matched straw pipes.
What students see: Shorter straws make higher notes.
Question: Which straw will sound highest?
2. Tuning Fork Makes Water Jump
Materials: Tuning fork; bowl of water
What you do: Strike fork gently and touch tips to water.
What students see: Water sprays/jumps.
Question: Can you see sound vibrations?
3. Water Xylophone
Materials: Several glasses/cups with different water levels; spoon
What you do: Tap each cup gently.
What students see: Different water levels produce different pitches.
Question: Which cup will sound highest?
Lesson flow
Predict → observe three demonstrations → compare what changed → choose independent activity station → cleanup/share.
Guiding questions:
Question: Which straw will sound highest?
Question: Can you see sound vibrations?
Question: Which cup will sound highest?