Tech Lesson 10-4: Pitch, Amplitude, and Waves with Audacity

Standards:
Demonstrates understanding of basic technology and telecommunication tools
Operates Basic technology tools and applications

CSTA Level I Standard 4: (3rd to 5th) Use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, remediate skill deficits, and facilitate learning throughout the curriculum.
CSTA Level I Standard 5: (3rd to 5th) Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create presentations, and publishing activities to create presentations for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

Basic Skills:
S4CS3 Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating objects in scientific activities utilizing safe laboratory procedures.
S4CS4 Students will use ideas of system, model, change, and scale in exploring scientific and technological matters.
a. Observe and describe how parts influence one another in things with many parts.
b. Use geometric figures, number sequences, graphs, diagrams, sketches, number lines, maps, and stories to represent corresponding features of objects, events, and processes in the real world. Identify ways in which the representations do not match their original counterparts.
c. Identify patterns of change in things—such as steady, repetitive, or irregular change—using records, tables, or graphs of measurements where appropriate.
S4CS5 Students will communicate scientific ideas and activities clearly.
S4P2 Students will demonstrate how sound is produced by vibrating objects and how sound can be varied by changing the rate of vibration.
a. Investigate how sound is produced.
b. Recognize the conditions that cause pitch to vary.

Objectives:
Students will identify the attributes of sound waves in graphic form that illustrate pitch, Amplitude, and timbre.
Students identify pitch as measuring frequency of sound wave.
Students identify amplitude as measuring the size vertically of a sound wave.
Students identify timbre as the smooth or jagged shape of a sound wave.
Students will describe a graphic sound wave as a function of graphing air pressure over time.

Sound Website for Frequency and Pitch:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/flash/changing_sounds.swf

Process:
1. Divide students into pairs.
2. Demonstrate using Audacity to record sounds.  
3. Student pairs record their voices saying:  "Hello, my name is Firstname Lastname."
4. Demonstrate selecting and copying sound sample.
5. Use pitch change function to make samples higher and lower.
6. Demonstrate reverse and echo effects
7. Student pairs record singing vowels "A, E, I, O, U"  (At least 4 seconds on each vowel.)
8. Save files as "Lastname1 Lastname2.wav" in file area of one student.

(Day 2)

9. Review timbre as quality of sound
10. Examine and draw wave forms for vowels.  Compare "A" and "oo" sounds.

Sound Wave Worksheet:


11. Create a Presentation slide illustrating Pitch, Amplitude, and Timbre.

Assessment:
Meets:
Student groups make sample recording demonstrating pitch, amplitude, and timbre.
Student groups create a Presentation slide showing wave forms with pitch, amplitude, and timbre.