Learning Objectives

Students will:

Understand fundamental sound physics concepts (frequency, amplitude, resonance)
Use digital tools to collect and analyse real-world data
Develop computational thinking through rule-based reasoning and pattern recognition
Apply sustainable design principles in engineering and art contexts
Collaborate and communicate findings in an international STEAM setting

Students explore the physics of sound through hands-on design and construction of interactive sound installations made from recycled and sustainable materials. Using string-based systems inspired by the ArtString approach, students investigate how sound properties such as frequency, amplitude, and resonance depend on string length, tension, and material type.

A strong digital component is integrated through the use of mobile applications such as Sound Meter, which students use to measure sound frequencies and amplitudes generated by their installations. The collected data is organised, analysed, and visualised using tables and graphs to identify patterns and relationships between physical variables and sound behaviour.

Students explicitly develop computational thinking by:

formulating simple rule-based relationships between variables (e.g., string length/material → frequency changes)
expressing these relationships as step-by-step logical rules (algorithmic thinking)
testing and refining their hypotheses based on experimental data (iterative “debugging” process)

As an optional extension, students may simulate or model sound behaviour using block-based coding tools such as Scratch, creating simple interactive models of how changes in physical parameters affect sound.

The activity combines science, engineering, creativity, and digital tools in a STEAM learning environment. It promotes sustainable practices through the use of recycled and locally available materials, aligning with SDGs 4, 9, and 12.

Students collaborate with international partners by sharing designs, measurements, analyses, and reflections, comparing how different materials and approaches influence acoustic outcomes.

Type of Activity: Hands-on experimental workshop + digital data analysis + optional coding extension

Students design and build a digital-physical sound harp using recycled materials and 3D-printed components, exploring how string length and material affect sound frequency.

They collect and analyse data using mobile measurement tools, applying computational thinking to identify patterns and relationships between variables.

Slavica Bernatović

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