Science·Waves, Light & Sound·conceptual
Sound Travels Through Materials
Recognise that vibrations from sounds travel through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to the ear
Suggested ages 8–9
Learning journey
Your child is discovering how sound works — understanding that sounds are vibrations that travel through air, water, and solids, and exploring how pitch and volume relate to the strength of these vibrations.
Evidence of understanding
- Explain that sound vibrations need a material (medium) to travel through — they can't travel in a vacuum
- Give examples of sound travelling through different media: air, water, solid objects
- Describe how a string telephone works: voice vibrates the cup, vibrations travel along the string to the other cup
Assessment prompt
Can Sound Travels Through Materials explain why you can hear someone talking through a wall, and why sound travels through water when you're swimming underwater?
Standards alignment
Y4.Sci.Snd.2GB · uk-nc-2013
Sound vibrations travelling to the ear
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 2