Physics 20 SOUND

Grade: 11
Subject: Physics 20
Unit: Sound
Topic: The Human Ear
Website: The Soundry: How we perceive the Ear


Link: Evergreen Curriculum

Explain how you would have your students use this website

This website provides a virtual tour of the outer, inner and middle ear. Throughout the exploration there are explanations about each part and their functions. The objectives in the Physics 20 Curriculum for the unit on Sound states that students will increase their abilities to define the following terms: meatus (auditory canal), tympanic membrane (eardrum), cochlea, auditory nerve, Eustachian tube. Students can do so by labeling a diagram of the ear. I would have students use this website as a guide to help ind the location of these terms and their functions within the ear. Students also need to explain the physical process by which sound signals reaching the ear are transferred from the outer ear to the middle ear. Therefore it is important they understand the functions of each part to connect them in the transferring of the sound.
I would have students work in pairs in a computer lab exploring this site to gain their knowledge and understanding of the Human Ear. This would be one of the first lessons in the Sound Unit. Students would ave a worksheet to help collect their findings on the site.

Explain how your students would benefit from this site:
I believe students would benefit from exploring this website because it not only provides a visual of the parts of the ear but also provides an explanation of where each part is located and their functions. Students would be able to take a constructivist approach to their learning by the teacher providing guidance and the students engaging themselves in their own learning for this topic.