Lesson 4: Can you hear me?

This Year 4 sound investigation gives pupils the opportunity to carry out a fair test using the cup telephones they planned and made in the previous lesson. Pupils investigate how changing one variable affects sound quality, record their results and present their findings using a bar chart or pictogram before drawing a scientific conclusion.

The lesson directly supports the Year 4 Science National Curriculum requirement to recognise that vibrations from sounds travel through a medium to the ear. It also develops Working Scientifically skills through comparative and fair testing, systematic observation, recording and presenting data and using results to draw conclusions.

Which cup telephone produces the best sound?

Pupils test the cup telephones they made in the previous lesson to answer their own investigation question. Depending on the variable selected, they might investigate the effect of changing the length or type of string, the size of the cup or the material from which the cup is made.

To keep the investigation fair, pupils change only one variable and control other factors, including keeping the string tight and using the same words at the same volume. They rate the sound quality of each telephone from 1 to 5 and record their results in a table.

Presenting results and drawing scientific conclusions

Pupils use their results to create either a bar chart or pictogram, making it easier to identify patterns in their data and answer their original investigation question. They then consider the science behind their findings and write a conclusion explaining what their results show about sound travelling through the cup telephone.

The lesson encourages pupils to think critically about their evidence, including why two groups carrying out the same investigation might obtain different results and why changing more than one variable would make it difficult to draw a valid conclusion.

What’s included in this Year 4 sound investigation?

• Launchable teaching slides for whole-class teaching
• Detailed lesson plan with National Curriculum and Working Scientifically coverage, teacher knowledge, vocabulary, misconceptions and assessment questions
• Cup Telephone Investigation Worksheet continued from the previous lesson
• Presenting Results Worksheet
• Practical cup telephone fair test investigating sound quality
• Results table for recording observations
• Bar chart and pictogram activities for presenting scientific data
• Conclusion-writing activity using evidence from pupils’ results
• Continuous provision and further challenge ideas exploring cup telephones and sound insulation

Explore the full Year 4 Sound resources, or explore our Year 4 science scheme of work and resources.