Virginia SOL 5.5.a

Science5th GradeForce, Motion, and Energy

The Standard

sound is produced when an object or substance vibrates

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify the back-and-forth movement that creates a sound. They use observations to connect what moves with what they hear.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can point to the moving part of a sound source, such as a guitar string or speaker cone. They can explain that stopping the movement stops the sound.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think sound comes from hitting, blowing, or electricity rather than from the resulting movement. They may also think only visible movement can make sound.
How to Assess It: Give students a picture of a ringing bell and ask, “What part is moving, and what would happen if that movement stopped?”

Lesson moves

Pluck a ruler hanging over a desk edge, then change its length and observe its movement and sound.
Ask students to explain what moves when they hum, clap, or tap a drum.
Play Sound Source Match, pairing cards showing instruments with cards naming the moving string, skin, reed, or air column.
Place fingers gently on the throat while speaking, then connect the felt movement to talking, singing, and phone calls.

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