We discussed that sound is made by vibrations and then made a wave using a long length of rope – one end was a noise ( drum skin vibrating) and the other an ear. I played  a small musical box in the air and then on a log – it was much louder through the wood and we discussed why. We remembered when we re-enacted solids, liquids and gases and this helped the children understand that atoms are much farther apart in gases than solid so it is easier for a wave to pass through a solid and amplify than in air .

To finish I challenged the groups to make a musical instrument that they could play ‘Happy Birthday’ on. We discussed why different bits of wood sound different etc and then the children played tunes and we had to guess what they were – very tricky!!