The kids had a blast making and playing with these during one of my recent Library Lab sessions. It was really cool to see the variations in sound their noisemakers could produce as they experimented with and fine tuned their designs. Some of their noisemakers were so loud! Just make sure you’ve got plenty of space for the kids to whip their creations around, otherwise it can get a little chaotic. Check out the instructions below!
Materials
· Jumbo craft sticks
· Rubber bands
· Foam pieces or cut up foam sheets
· Tape
· Scissors
· String
· Index cards (or card stock cut to size)
· Markers or crayons to decorate index cards (optional)
Instructions
1. Using markers or crayons have the kids decorate their index card.
2. Tape the upper part of the index card to the craft stick lengthwise.
3. Take 2 foam pieces or cut 2 strips of craft foam the width of your craft stick and about 4 inches long. Fold them in half (and in half again if using larger foam pieces) and tape it to the ends of the craft stick.
4. Cut a piece of string about the length from the tip of the child’s fingertips to their elbow. Securely tie a piece of string to the stick.
5. Stretch the rubber band along the length of the stick and over the craft foam.
6. Holding on to the string start spinning the noisemaker around!
What’s Going On?
The noise is made when the rubber band vibrates against the wooden craft stick. These vibrations create waves in the air that we perceive as sound. Notice how the noise it makes sounds like the buzzing of a bee or a fly? That’s because this is also what happens when bees and flies beat their wings. The motion of their tiny wings moves the air in a way that creates a buzzing sound.
Extension Activity
Experiment with the length of the string, thickness of the piece of foam, and size or shape of the index card. Does the sound change?
Try using two index cards, one on each side of the craft stick.
See what happens when you use a different size rubber band. How about when you use more than one rubber band?
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This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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