The 8th-grade scientists at JPII have been humming along in their study of sound waves, and their latest experiment really resonated! Students took a hands-on approach to understanding the properties of sound by crafting their very own homemade kazoos. Through this fun and noisy activity, they explored how vibrations create sound, how sound waves travel through different mediums, and how pitch and tone can be altered.
But this wasn’t just about making music—it was about tuning in to the science behind it! "By manipulating their kazoos, students learned how changes in airflow, tension, and material composition can affect sound waves," said JPII science teacher, Nicole Schatzle. "This experiment set the stage for their next big challenge: designing and building their own musical instruments to further explore wave frequency, amplitude, and resonance."
Understanding sound waves isn’t just key for musicians—it’s essential for engineers, scientists, and even medical professionals who use ultrasound technology. "Whether they’re composing a tune or decoding sonar signals, these students are gaining skills in problem-solving, creativity, and scientific inquiry that will serve them well in the future," said Mrs. Schatzle.