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Super SOUND
Science Project
A Performance Task
For Fourth Grade Students

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

Congratulations!
Mrs. Pettits 4th grade classroom has been chosen to perform with the Rochester Philharmonic
Orchestra! There is one BIG problem, the orchestra does not have any extra instruments! Your
job is to create and design your very own musical instrument that produces sound and complete a
personal narrative that you will give as a presentation. The presentation must show your
understanding of what you have learned about in this unit. Once you have finished both tasks
you will have the chance to present your instrument and
presentation to members of the Rochester Philharmonic
Orchestra! In your presentation you must include all
vocabulary words from our list. You should have at least
five ideas that demonstrate some of what you have
learned about sound. In your presentation think of ways to
be creative, when showing your instrument and your five
ideas because you want the members to notice you and
stand out from the rest of your classmates. Your
presentation should be well practiced, and you should be
ready and able to answer questions if the orchestra
members have any for you. They will be grading your
instrument and presentation on a rubric, if they like what
they see and hear they may hire you for their next show!
So be sure to try your hardest and use your imagination
while creating your instrument and when writing your presentation!!

Your presentation must meet the following criteria in order for you to receive a spot in the
orchestra:

You must have an introduction and a purpose, must introduce self, welcome audience,
have instrument to display and play, and explain the purpose of your project.
Your instrument must demonstrate the principles of; transforming energy, craftsmanship
and care, reduce reuse and/or recycle, and have a unique design.
Your presentation accurately used five out of five of the vocab terms which are;
Vibration, Pitch, Frequency, Volume, and Decibel.
Your instrument model must show how; sound is produced, sound is changed, sound
travels, sound is received by the human ear.
Throughout the presentation you must maintain eye contact, speak slowly, speak clearly,
and use appropriate volume.

Good Luck! I hope that you will receive a spot on stage with the
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra!!!
PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

Stage One: Design Stage

On this paper you will brainstorm any ideas that you may have for your musical instrument. Once you
have narrowed your selection down to one you will then draw and label a draft sketch of your musical
instrument/idea on the next page. Make sure that you think about how this instrument will demonstrate
what you have learned about sound.

Brainstorm Here

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

Draw and Label Musical Instrument

This page is blank for you to draw your instrument.

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

Stage Two: Materials Stage

Once you have labeled your sketch, you will make a list of all supplies that you will need to
make your instrument.

After you completed your list you can gather your materials
PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

Stage Three: Construction Stage

During this stage you will create your instrument. Make sure to use your
time wisely because you will not receive extra class time to work on
your instrument If you do not finish during the work time you will
have to complete your instrument at home for homework.

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

Stage Four: The Big Ideas

You will be presenting your instrument to the members of the orchestra, very soon.
Your task:
Record five ideas for your personal narrative that you will share with the members of the
orchestra when you present your instrument to them.
To be hired by the orchestra you must:

Make sure that the five ideas demonstrate some of what you have learned about sound.
Use ALL of the vocabulary words from our list in your presentation

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

After you have completed the personal narrative, find a classmate to

practice your presentation with. When practicing with a partner look for
the following:
Check for:

Category
Introduction and Purpose

Product or Model

Knowledge of Scientific
Vocabulary

Demonstrates Principles
of Science

Presentation Skills

Additional comments/suggestions:

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

Look for:
I began my presentation with
Model on display
Introducing myself
Welcoming audience
Setting a purpose
My instrument must demonstrate the principles of:
transforming energy
craftsmanship and care
reduce reuse and/or recycle
Have a unique design.
My presentation accurately used five out of five of
the vocab terms which are;
Vibration
Pitch
Frequency
Volume
Decibel
I used an instrument model must show how
Sound is produced
Sound is changed
Sound travels
Sound is received by the human ear.
Throughout the presentation, I
Maintained eye contact
Spoke slowly
Spoke clearly
Used appropriate volume.

Stage Five: Presentation Stage

The moment we have all been waiting for is finally here!!!
Some members from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will be coming to our classroom
today to assess your presentation of your instrument and your knowledge of sound. They will be
looking for students that have the following so make sure that you:

Have an introduction and a purpose, must introduce self, welcome audience, have
instrument to display and play, and explain the purpose of your project.
Your instrument must demonstrate the principles of; transforming energy, craftsmanship
and care, reduce reuse and/or recycle, and have a unique design.
Your presentation accurately used five out of five of the vocab terms which are;
Vibration, Pitch, Frequency, Volume, and Decibel.
Your instrument model must show how; sound is produced, sound is changed, sound
travels, sound is received by the human ear.
Throughout the presentation you must maintain eye contact, speak slowly, speak clearly,
and use appropriate volume.

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

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Student Check List:

Once task Task
has been
completed
Check this
column off
Brainstorm idea for musical instrument

Draw and label a draft sketch of instrument

Think about how your instrument relates to sound

Make supplies list

Gather supplies

Create instrument

Personal narrative

Practice presentation with classmates

Give presentation to Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

members
PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

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PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

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Vocabulary Words:

Vibration- A vibration is a repeated back and forth motion. All sound is

produced by vibration.

Pitch- The pitch of a sound can be described as high or low. The pitch
of a sound is directly related to the frequency of vibrations of the object
producing the sound.

Frequency- The frequency is the number of times the back and forth
movement occurs in a second.

Volume- Volume describes how loud or soft a sound is. Volume is

directly related to the magnitude of the back and forth movement of the
vibrating object.

Decibel- Volume is measured in a unit called a decibel.

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

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Super Sound Science Project

A Performance Task for Students in Fourth Grade
Teachers Edition:
Common Core State
Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.B
Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.D
Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform
about or explain the topic.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1.D
Review the key ideas expressed and explain their own ideas and
understanding in light of the discussion.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.4
Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in
an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant,
descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly
at an understandable pace.
NYS Science learning Standards:
Key Idea 4: Energy exists in many forms, and when these forms
change energy is conserved.
4.1d energy and matter interact: Water is evaporated by the suns
heat, a bulb is lighted by means of electrical current; a musical
instrument is played to produce sound; dark colors may absorb
light, light colors may reflect light.
Next Generation Science Standard: topic-Energy:
4-PS3-2. Make observations to provide
evidence that energy can be
transferred from place to place by
sound, light, heat, and electric
currents.

Enduring Understandings Energy is transferred through patterns and wave lengths with the
ability to move objects (air).
Essential Questions

Learning Targets
(Process Skills)
Knowledge

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

1. How does the material of an object affect the sound

produced?
2. How is sound received by the human ear?
3. How does sound energy travel?
4. How is sound energy changed?
5. How is sound produced?
Creating models, drawing conclusions, measurement, and
synthesis of learned concepts.
This is done at the end of the unit Students should show
knowledge of:
How sound is produced

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Objectives

Materials:

How sound energy is changed

How sound energy travels
How sound is received by the human ear
Students will be able to create their own idea for a unique musical
instrument.
Students will be able to design and sketch their instrument.
Students will be able to explain how the instrument demonstrates
what they have learned about sound.
Students will be able to write a personal narrative about how their
instrument works and how it relates to what they have learned
about sound.
Students will be able to present their personal narratives to a group
of adults.

GRASPS:
G is for Goal

R is for Role

A is for Audience
S is for Situation

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

Super Sound Science project packet

Writing utensil
Sketch paper
Materials to make instrument will vary.
Teacher will have available:
Boxes, string, construction paper, bottles, etc. Whatever
students need to create their instrument.
Personal narrative worksheet.
Scoring Rubric

The students ultimate goal is to be hired by the Rochester

Philharmonic Orchestra. In order to be hired, you need to create
your very own musical instrument. You then will have to present it
in from of a group of musicians that are from the Rochester
Philharmonic Orchestra.
YOURSELFYou are a student from Mrs. Pettits fourth grade
classroom and her classroom was chosen to have a chance to
perform with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will be looking
to hire a few students for their show.
Mrs. Pettits 4th grade classroom has been chosen to perform with
the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra! There is one BIG problem,
the orchestra does not have any extra instruments! Your job is to
create and design your very own musical instrument that produces
sound and complete a personal narrative that you will give as a
presentation that shows your understanding of what you have
learned about in this unit. Once you have finished both tasks you
will have the chance to present your instrument and presentation to
members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra! They will be
grading your instrument and presentation on a rubric, if they like
what they see and hear they may hire you for their next show! So

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P is for Product,
Performance, Purpose

S is for Standards/
Criteria for Success

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015

be sure to try your hardest and use your imagination while creating
your instrument and when writing your presentation!!
You need to create your very own musical instrument. You will
also complete a personal narrative on your understanding of the
phenomenon of sound.
After this is completed you will present in front a group from the
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. In your presentation you must
include all vocabulary words from our list. You should have at
least five ideas that demonstrate some of what you have learned
about sound. In your presentation think of ways to be creative,
when showing your instrument and your five ideas because you
want the members to notice you and stand out from the rest of
your classmates. Your presentation should be well practiced, and
you should be ready and able to answer questions if the orchestra
members have any for you. Your ultimate goal is to be hired by
the orchestra to perform in an upcoming show.
Your presentation must meet the following criteria in order for you
to receive a spot in the orchestra:
You must have an introduction and a purpose, must
introduce self, welcome audience, have instrument to
display and play, and explain the purpose of your project.
Your instrument must demonstrate the principles of;
transforming energy, craftsmanship and care, reduce reuse
and/or recycle, and have a unique design.
Your presentation accurately used five out of five of the
vocab terms which are; Vibration, Pitch, Frequency,
Volume, and Decibel.
Your instrument model must show how; sound is
produced, sound is changed, sound travels, sound is
received by the human ear.
Throughout the presentation you must maintain eye
contact, speak slowly, speak clearly, and use appropriate
volume.

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Resources:
Next Generation Science Standards. (2011, January 1). Retrieved March 11, 2015, from
http://www.nextgenscience.org/
Preparing America's students for success. (2015, January 1). Retrieved March 11, 2015, from
http://www.corestandards.org
Science Learning Standards and Core Curriculum. (2009, May 5). Retrieved March 11, 2015,
from http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/scirg.html

PERFORMANCE TASK
Kendall Z. Hall 2015