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Making simple sound effects and musical instruments
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This month on This is Science!: Make simple sound effects or musical instruments. Perfect for rainy days and little kids. Good for older kids' first science project. Experiment and play! Thanks to the beautiful Children's Museum in Oak Lawn for their hospitality and ideas.
See more science experiment videosMaterials
Plastic drinking cup (or other box type thing)
Yarn or cotton string (not nylon)
Paper clip
Paper towel
Nail
Scissors
Water
Directions
Cut a piece of yarn about 20 inches long. Use the nail to punch a hole in the center of the bottom of the cup. Tie one end of the yarn to the middle of the paper clip. Push the other end of the yarn through the hole in the cup and pull it through to the inside of the cup. Dampen a piece of paper towel (about the size of a dollar bill). Hold the cup in one hand and wrap the damp paper towel around the string near the cup. While you squeeze the string, pull down in short jerks so that the paper towel slides along the string.
Try different types of string or yarn. What's the change?
Try a different size cup or a box or other container.
Try materials other than paper towel.
