Sound insulation

In this activity, students will learn about how to test different materials in order to work out how effective they are as sound insulators. The lesson will also encourage learners to consider the variables that engineers have to take into account before choosing materials for construction.

It's a great illustration of how scientists and engineers must work together in collaboration to solve problems, encouraging students to do likewise in the classroom.

This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It has been designed to support the delivery of key topics within maths, design and technology (DT) and science.

Activity: Identifying which materials might offer the best prospects for a financial investment

In this activity, students will consider how materials need be tested for their suitability for a specific job before engineers in construction projects can choose them.

They’ll do this by watching the ‘Sound Design’ film, which looks at the sound engineering and acoustics behind The 02 music venue in Dublin.

Students will be asked to think about what properties need to be considered, how these might be scientifically tested, and how other considerations concerning the design of a product might influence the choice of which material is best for the job.

Download our activity overview for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students about sound insulation.

The engineering context

Structural engineers use their knowledge of sound insulation to design buildings to prevent too much noise from penetrating walls and floors. This is really important for areas that are densely populated where noise pollution can become a serious issue.

This activity will therefore not only teach students about how to consider the properties of different materials (and why they might be selected for different construction projects) but it will also give insight into sound engineering and acoustics.

Suggested learning outcomes

Upon completion of the lesson students will be able to plan and conduct an investigation to assess the capability of various materials in absorbing or insulating sound. Students will also identify other variables that need consideration when selecting a material for use in a building. They’ll also be able to consider whether a particular material is the best material for a job when other variables of equal importance are taken into account.

Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources

The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download (including film clips!), and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.

Download our classroom lesson plan below.

Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.