Task 1: SOUNDS
Look around you. Produce some sounds by gently tapping on different things. Later follow this video and try to identify these sounds.

Task 2: WHAT IS SOUND?
Think about how sounds are produced. Can you identify a loud and soft sound? Can you identify a high and a low sound?

Sounds are produced as a result of a SERIES OF VIBRATIONS. When you tap an object or a guitar string, these will produce a series of very fast small movements called vibrations. The sound can be made louder by hitting the string harder. You may also feel these vibrations when you put your hands near a sound speaker.
Follow this video to understand better the science of sound.

The number of times a loudspeaker (or string) vibrates per second is the FREQUENCY of the vibration. Frequency is measured in hertz (symbol Hz). In music, a high note has a high frequency whereas a low note has a low frequency.
Now follow this link and use this simulation to show loud / soft and high / low sounds. Observe that there is a relation between the type of sound produced and the vibrations. Copy the following link and go through this simulation which shows the movement of air particles.

https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Sound-Waves/

Task 3: MEASURING SOUND LEVELS
Sound loudness is measured in units called decibels (symbol dB). A whisper is about 30 dB, a normal conversation is about 60 dB. Noise above 70 dB over a prolonged period of time may damage your hearing. Loud noise above 120 dB can cause immediate harm to your ears. Download Resource 1_NOISE LEVELS.

There are sound meters which measure the noise levels. You may download an application on your mobile which measures the noise levels. Go to App Store or Google Play App store and download a Sound Meter as shown in Resource 2_SOUND METER.

Task 4: TRADITIONAL LOCAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Finally, it would be a good idea to carry out some research on traditional Maltese musical instruments such as iz-Zaqq or iz-Zafzafa. The latter is the Maltese friction drum…still played during the carnival period. It is made out of a tin, pottery or wood container stuck to a piece of skin at the top. Follow this video and observe the way how sounds are produced here.

Task 5: FURTHER RESEARCH
You may look for further examples of sound as a series of vibrations. Use the internet and look for vibrating tuning fork in water (see Resource 3_TUNING FORK), small polystyrene balls on a loudspeaker or Rubens’ tube (see Resource 4_RUBENS’ TUBE).