This middle school curriculum looks at how sound and pitches work, by inviting students to explore the sounds around them. Through a Next Generation Science Standards based curriculum students use Google's Science Journal app to explore the pitches and tones that can be created using common objects. They are then introduced to four sensors (also using Google Science Journal): a light sensor, a motion sensor, a barometer, and a compass. These sensors are then used to create sound by mapping sensor readings to pitches. Students can then use this mapping to play recognizable songs.
AnnMarie Thomas is a professor in the School of Engineering and the Opus Colluege of Business at the University of St. Thomas where she is the director of the UST Center for Engineering Education. Her research group, the Playful Learning Lab, focuses on engineering and design education for learners of all ages.
Dr. Besser, PE, ENV SP, holds a PhD in education and MS and BS in civil engineering. Currently, she is civil engineering chair and Center for Engineering Education director. Previous experience includes faculty positions in diverse universities where she has taught a variety of coursework including steel, timber, concrete and masonry design, construction, engineering economy, engineering graphics and engineering education. Prior to teaching, Dr. Besser, a licensed engineer, was a design engineer with HNTB-CA, where she worked on seismic retrofits and new design of high profile transportation structures.
I am an undergraduate student studying mechanical engineering and math and the University of St. Thomas. I am the lab operations manager at the Playful Learning Lab
Undergraduate Research Assistant for the Playful Learning Lab at St. Thomas under the direction of Dr. Annmarie Thomas. Second-year Mechanical Engineering major with a Peace Engineering minor. Has led many STEM activities and is interested in using engineering to encourage peoples' interests and collaborate with developing countries.
Esmée Verschoor is a Communications and Journalism major at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is passionate about graphic design, visual communication and cultural studies. Currently, Esmée is the Visual Manager at the Playful Learning Lab, led by Dr. AnnMarie Thomas, where she creates, designs and implements educational materials focused on incorporating joy, whimsy and play into education.
Are you a researcher? Would you like to cite this paper? Visit the ASEE document repository at peer.asee.org for more tools and easy citations.