Australian Science Channel

Sensing Sound

Overview

The Sensing Sound STEM education program uses the theme of health and the human body show students that STEM is relevant to their lives. It focuses on sound energy and its transfer.The inquiry-based and hands-on learning program engages and challenges both students and teachers, making STEM fun to learn and easier to teach.

The resource maps to the Australian Curriculum Science at Year 9.

STELR Sensing Sound Curriculum Materials

The activities included on the STELR Sensing Sound curriculum materials allow students to investigate:

  • the Physics of sound: Source
  • the Physics of sound: Travel
  • the Biology of hearing
  • how well do you hear
  • careers in related fields.

The program is supported by the Sensing Sound Student Book and the Future Health Fact File which can be downloaded here:

STELR Sensing Sound student book – PDF (1,515 KB)

Sensing Sound Student Work Book
The student books are designed to be kept by students who write in them as they complete the unit.

STELR Future Health Fact File – PDF (2,710 KB)

The Future Health Fact File overview
The Future Health Fact File is aimed at students in years 7 – 10.
It contains general information about the future of health and case studies about 3D printing of body parts and advances in disease detection.

There are career profiles of an electrical engineer who works on cochlear implants and a genetic counsellor who advises families about possible genetic links to some cancers.

Sensing Sound is designed to be a 6-8 week course.  Teachers are encouraged to modify the number or complexity of the activities to suit the needs of their students.

STELR Sensing Sound Equipment Kits

STELR has not developed a specific equipment kit for this module.

All classroom activities can be undertaken using everyday items ans/or standard school laboratory equipment.

Additional information and resources

Sensing Sound Curriculum Links

Career Profiles

Ivana Popovac
Systems Engineer
Manager, Systems Engineering, Cochlear Limited

Ivana was the lead design engineer working on Cochlear’s next generation Nexus7 Implant, the world’s first made for iPhone cochlear system

Career Profiles

Kate Lomas and Liz Williams
Entrepreneur
Co-founders of a company called Hemdeina

The company is developing a hearing system for deaf people. Kate is the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Liz is The Chief Executive Officer (CEO).