Teacher Experience: “Drums and Vibrations” Task for 1st Grade Science & STEM Students

A Defined STEM Learning Experience From:
Paul Karlovics
First Grade Science/ STEM Teacher
Summit 104 (IL)

Performance Task:
Drums and Vibrations

Here’s What We Did:
We began the project with a PowerPoint presentation on the basics of sound and the parts of a drum, which included the video clips provided by Defined STEM. I reviewed the science of sound, including sound waves, then drum science, including parts of the drum and how they worked together to produce sound. Students drew plans of what their drum would look like and how big it would be, then chose materials for their drums. Some drawings came to life as students made a variety of drums using different materials to experiment with sound and what works.

Why Defined STEM Was the Perfect Fit:
Students were very enthusiastic about the science aspect of this particular project. Many young students connect with music and sounds, so they enjoyed watching videos including bands and relating what they learned with what they already know. Students were very engaged with this lesson, especially when building their own drums and making their drawings come to life to create an end product they could be proud of. Many students had the “ah-ha” moment when building the drums out of different materials and testing them to find different sounds.

(Photo below)