Preschool Science Experiment: Making Music

A great way to teach preschoolers about sound waves is by making music. Using objects you can find around your home you and your preschooler can create your own musical band and learn all about sound. 

 

Fill the same type of glasses with different amounts of water. Have your preschooler gently clink on the glass and see how the sound is different. 

 

Thread a thick rubber band across a small cardboard jewelry box or if your rubber band is big enough, a small shoe box. Thread a thinner rubber band across the same box. Have your preschooler pluck it. What’s going on?

 

Take different sized metal bowls or pots. The ideal is going to be bowls or pots made from the same material, but are different sizes. Have your preschooler bang on them with a wooden spoon. What do they notice? Then have them bang on them with a plastic spoon. What happened? Then try with a metal spoon. Try filling the bowls with water, what happens? Try filling them with vegetable oil. Does something change? What about if you put a small object in? 

Get a small bell and have your preschooler ring it. Put the bell into a bowl of water and then ring it. What do you and your preschooler notice?

 

Take a cardboard paper towel roll, and close off one end with tape and plastic wrap. Add rice to the open end and then close off the open end with your tape and plastic wrap. Have your preschooler shake it. 

 

Take another paper towel roll and gently push tacks or small pins into the cardboard in a spiral pattern around the outside. Be careful with this step since you don’t want your preschooler to get poked with the pins or tacks. Seal off one end with your tape and plastic wrap. Add rice and seal off the other end. What happens now to the sound?