Lesson Plan: Noise Pollution

Grade level: Four
 

Outcomes


Science:

Demonstrate processes for investigating the extent of noise pollution in their surroundings, and work with group members to evaluate the processes used in investigating noise pollution(104-1, 207-6)
Identify the positive and negative effects of technological devices that produce loud sounds, such as personal stereo systems, jackhammers, and jets, and identify the need for protection from and prevention of hearing loss (108-1,206-9)
Describe specific personal actions or products that can help reduce this noise pollution (108-3)

Technology:

A2. Recognize that different technologies are used for specific tasks.
D4. Understand the structure of a simple spreadsheet.
D6. Create a spreadsheet as one strategy for collecting and organizing information.
D7. Create charts and graphs to display data.

Language Arts:

A1. Explore and discuss their thoughts, ideas, and experiences and consider those of their peers.
E1.1 Determine their own, and community needs for information.
J3. Use technology with increasing proficiency in writing and other forms of representing

Math:

F1. Recognize and use a variety of methods for the collection and organization of data.
F3. read and interpret bar graphs, line graphs, pictographs, and stem-and leaf graphs.
F5. Construct bar graphs, pictographs, and stem-and leaf graphs.
F6. Interpolate data from a display.
F8. Explore real-world issues of interest to the students and for which data collection is necessary to determine an answer.

Created by: Elizabeth Tumblin
Last Updated: July 8, 2003

Activity

1. Brainstorm noise pollution . What is it? What are some sources of noise pollution in various environments of students - home, school, community?
2. Explore various means of recording noise pollution - sound meter, microphone connected to computer, tape recorder, distance from sound before can no longer hear it, etc..
3. Choose an environment. Collect noise level data from at least five sources of noise pollution, using a tally sheet to record the results.
4. Create a graph using the spreadsheet portion of AppleWorks.
5. Create three questions based on the information provided in your graph.
6. Share your graph and questions with a partner.
7. Answer your partners’ graph questions.
8. Revise/edit your original questions based on feedback from your partner.
9. Post the graphs on a bulletin board display. Post the questions and see if people can guess which graph the questions are based on.
10. Make three recommendations for decreasing noise pollution and protecting your hearing based on what you learned from the environment you explored.
11. Share each students’ recommendations in a newsletter to parents.

Assessment

Choose three sources of noise pollution. In your learning log, make a chart that lists the source of noise pollution, positive and negative aspects of the source, potential for hearing loss and safety procedures.