Sounding out the secrets of the sea
Activities
Discovery School (Discovery Education, USA)
The phenomenon of sound: Waves – students learn that sound is a form of energy that travels in waves; that sound waves can travel through different mediums; and make observations about the behaviour of sound waves.
Project Oceanography (University of South Florida, USA)
Introduction to marine mammals and acoustics – introduces basic acoustic principles and the movement of sound through air and water. Students gain an understanding of the importance of the study of acoustic oceanography and of why and how marine mammals use sound.
Sound production and reception – students learn how sound is generated and how it is interpreted in the human and marine mammal ear.
Sound use by marine mammals – students measure frequency, wavelength and the speed at which sound travels, why sound is emitted at different frequencies and appreciate the importance of sound to marine mammals.
Equipment and sounds people use to explore the oceans – students will gain knowledge and appreciation for research vessels and the equipment found on them.
Noise pollution – students learn what causes hearing damage in humans and animals, and that noise pollution is more than loud noises.
Recording sounds from wild marine mammals – students gain an understanding of the technology used by researchers to study underwater sound.
Discovery of Sound in the Sea (University of Rhode Island, USA)
Classroom activities – provides a number of activities on the use of sound by marine mammals including: ‘Are we hearing the same thing?’; ‘On the trail of a whale’; ‘How do dolphins sense their environment?’ and ‘Thinking inside the box’.
The Educator's Reference Desk (Information Institute of Syracuse, USA)
Seeing sound and sonar – introduces students to ocean floor mapping.
SeaWorld/ Busch Gardens (USA)
Now hear this – students investigate their hearing range.
Strike a Chord (The National Science and Technology Centre, Australia)
What did you say? – a series of activities to help students understand how the ear works.
Marco Polo is for whales – this activity uses the concept of the swimming pool game Marco Polo to introduce the principles of sonar.
Otolith Research Laboratory (Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Canada)
A fun project to do in class – students dissect a fish head to identify otoliths.
Posted August 2007.