Investigation 1: Dropping In

Day 2

Drop Codes

PHYSICS OF SOUND

I can create a drop code and use it to send sound messages.

I can use a drop code to understand sound messages.

OBJECTIVES

Compare two sounds used at school information (fire alarm, loudspeaker, etc.)

What does each sound tell us?How can you tell the sounds apart?What other sounds are used to give us information?

Think-Pair-ShareWhy is sound a good way to send warnings to people? Why not use another sense like touch, smell, sight, or taste?

SOUNDS USED FOR INFORMATION

The sounds you recognize and the message they tell are a code you have learned.

A code is a set of signals or symbols representing letters, numbers, or other information that is used to communicate.

Braille, sign language, music notes, etc.

CODES

Think-Pair-ShareCan you use your drop objects and drop chamber to develop a code that you can use to communicate?

CREATE A DROP CODE

Use your sound discrimination skills to develop a code to send messages to each other.

All four members of the group agree on 6 drop objects that are easiest to tell apart by sound.

GETTERS get two sorting mats. Both teams put the 6 objects in the 6 sections of their sorting mats.

Choose 6 letters of the alphabet that can be used to make a lot of different words. Stream

Assign one letter of your six-letter alphabet to each of the 6 drop objects.

Write the letters in the circles in the sections. Write the name of the objects in the section.

Check your two mats to make sure they are identical.

CREATE A DROP CODE

GETTERs get the drop chambers and scrap paper.

Take turns sending one-word coded messages.

One team drops a series of “letters” one at a time into the drop chamber.

The other team receives and decodes the message on the scrap paper.

Check to see if the message was correct.

Teams switch roles.

USE THE DROP CODE

Add more letters (objects) to your alphabet and more words to your messages.

Try sending your name using the drop code.

EXPAND THE CODES

GETTERs return materials.

In your yellow Physics of Sound booklet: Complete Response Sheet-Dropping In:

Two students wanted to invent a new code to use with the drop chamber so they could practice their multiplication facts. Anthony said the washer was easy to identify, so they should use only metal objects like coins and washers to make their code. Neha said she thought they should use objects that were made of different materials, like a ping-pong ball, a wooden stick, a washer, and so forth.

Which student so you think has the better idea? Why?

WRAPPING UP

I can create a drop code and use it to send sound messages.

I can use a drop code to understand sound messages.

OBJECTIVES

RECEIVER

CODE

SOURCE

SOUND DISCRIMINATION

Analogies

On is to off as black is to white.

Little is to small and big is to large.

VOCABULARY PRACTICE