Originally posted by Neil from an idea inspired by member Julie Burton

"Noise" = "Sound"

Interesting thing about sound...

• It can MOVE/CHANGE THINGS.  How could the sound of God's voice steer you in the right direction?
• It can BREAK THINGS.  What words can break through bad feelings, pain, feeling unloved?
• It can MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD. What words sound good to people?
• It can be AMPLIFIED (shared)   What do we use to amplify God's voice in our lives?

The concept:  

Do several experiments and have the kids help you EXPRESS THE FAITH METAPHOR (object lessons) which the experiment could be used to illustrate.

Below are some basic science experiments the kids can perform that will form the basis for your follow up question.... such as in the first one here, "What are the objects that help transmit the Word between people? In the church?

Note: There are a MULTITUDE of "Sound Experiments for Children" on various science websites.

1. Experiment: Another experiment to investigate whether sound travels better through a solid or a gas.

Materials:

You will need-

• One friend.
• One table.
• A piece of paper and a pen to record your results.

Method:
What you have to do-

1. Sit opposite your friend.
2. Knock on the table.
3. Listen to how loud the sound is.
4. Ask your friend to place their ear against the surface of the table.
5. Knock on the table again.
6. Ask your friend to describe how loud the sound is through the table.

Results:

• Did you discover what we did?
• When you listen to the knocking sound through the table, it is much louder.

Conclusions:

• Sound travels better through a solid (table), than through a gas (air).
• "What are the objects that help transmit the Word between people? In the church?   How is  BEING THE BIBLE TO SOMEONE better than simply SPEAKING the Bible to them?

2. Talking String!

Experiment: 

To prove / examine how sound can travel through objects.

Materials:
You will need-

• Two pieces of tracing paper.
• One pencil.
• Sticky tape.
• String.
• Two rubber bands.
• Two paper clips.
• Two cardboard tube.

Method:
What you have to do-

1. Fold a piece of tracing paper over one end of each tube.
2. Fix it with a rubber band.
3. Pull the paper tight and tape it to the tubes.
4. Thread the string through both holes.
5. Tie a paperclip to each end to stop the string slipping back through.
6. Use the tubes as a simple telephone.
7. Hold one tube to your ear and listen while your friend speaks softly into the other tube.

Results:

• What happens?

Conclusions:

• Why do you think this is happening?
• What happens when you place cotton wool into the tubes?
• What "cotton" do you/people use to DAMPEN or WEAKEN the Word that is being spoken to them?

Levitation by Sound

Have kids try to move an object by shouting at it.

Now place a large loud speaker on its back with the speaker facing up. Make sure it is flat.

Place a very light paper tray made out of copy paper on top of the speakers.

Have three different objects to place in tray at different times.  Ask: Which can the sound make move?     RICE,  NAILS,  FEATHERS

Play some thumpy heavy BASS music (pick the right kind)

Turn up the volume SLOWLY and see what happens.

• How does the sound of God's Voice feel?  Make us move?
• Why do some people need more volume to move?
• What makes a person "heavy" (unreceptive) to God's desire for them?
• How does our church "turn up the volume"?

Invite students to draw themselves on a piece of paper and see how the volume can make them move.

Making a Glass Xylophone

Remember that scene in Miss Congeniality where Sandra Bullock plays the glasses filled with water?   That's what this experiment is going to create.

Ideas to relate:

• God is the master musician, how do we get filled up and in tune?
• What if we dump out our water?
• How important is it to the song that we be part of a group of glasses?
• Where do you get the water?  

Harmony! Working Together, "all the earth!"

There are a MULTITUDE of "Sound Experiments for Children" on various science websites. If you come up with some, please ADD THEM HERE !

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