Science… at the Speed of Sound!

Your students will explore the science of sound as it relates to aviation through hands-on activities, a guided tour of the collection, and discussion of the environmental impact of aircraft sound.

Grade: Grade 4
Subject: Science and Technology
Cost: $4.50 per student (minimum fee of $85)
Group size: Max. 28 students
Chaperones: Minimum of 6 adult chaperones per group (free)
Capacity: No concurrent bookings
Duration: 90 minutes

Program Description

A 45-minute workshop gives students an opportunity to test the basic properties of sound: in particular, how sound travels through various substances (water, air, solids) and what can be used to attenuate sound. Students will rotate through a variety of workstations, making hypotheses, testing and recording their results.

The second half of the program is an interactive tour through the Museum, designed to reinforce how concepts learned in the workshop apply to aircraft. Your students will visit a selection of aircraft — from the open-cockpit aircraft of the pioneer era to modern aircraft — and will discuss the evolution of sound-attenuation technology as it applies both to making flights less noisy for air crew and passengers, and to reducing sound for people and animals outside the aircraft.

Curriculum Links

Science and Technology

Understanding Matter and Energy: Light and Sound

1. Relating Science and Technology to Society and the Environment

1.1: Assess the impacts on society and the environment of light and/or sound energy produced by different technologies.

2. Developing Investigation and Communication Skills

2.3: Investigate the basic properties of sound.

3. Understanding Basic Concepts

3.4: Describe properties of sound, including the following: sound travels; sound can be absorbed or reflected and can be modified.
3.5: Explain how vibrations cause sound.
3.6: Describe how different objects and materials interact with light and sound energy.

Source Document: The Ontario Curriculum Grades 1–8: Science and Technology, 2007

Teacher Tips

Remember: to help plan your trip, teachers are entitled to a free pass. Please call our reservation office to request yours today!

To get the most out of your experience, we recommend that you arrange your bus schedule so that you can spend 2–2 ½ hours at the Museum. This will give you an opportunity to visit more of the collection on your own, take health breaks, enjoy snacks or lunches, visit the boutique, etc.

Remember to bring a large bag or bags to carry home your class’s creations, and a camera to document the fun!

Staying for lunch? Please ask our reservation office about table/lunchroom availability, as well as our catering service.

Pre-Visit Activity Suggestions

Ask students to discuss their experiences with flight. Have they ever flown in an airplane? What kind was it? Was it big? Small? How noisy was it? Do they live near an airport? Is it noisy?

Gather students outside (or in the gym during inclement weather) and ask them to lie down and close their eyes. Ask them to listen to the world around them and to try to remember five things they’ve heard. Use the data in math class and make a graph of how many students heard each thing.

Fees and Reservations

Make a Reservation

Please make your reservation at least three weeks in advance by calling 613-993-4264 or click on the Reserve button to fill out an online reservation request. Please allow a minimum of 48 hours for our response.

Program fees are per person and include taxes. All accompanying adults per group are admitted free. Payment may be made in advance or on arrival by cash, credit card, debit, or cheque made payable to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

Fees
Program	Per student*	Minimum Fee
*Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice.
Science… at the Speed of Sound!	$4.50	$85

Cancellation Fees

A cancellation fee of $80 per school program will be charged for cancellations made less than 48 hours before the scheduled date of the program. For a program cancelled with more than 48 hours notice, a $20 administration fee will apply, unless the program is rescheduled within the same school year. In the case of school bus cancellation due to inclement weather, this fee will not apply if a school reschedules the cancelled program within the same school year.