I did this activity with my Grade 5 classes and they really enjoyed it. I used two smart phones, one with a sound level measuring app as in the description (Phyphox), and one with an app to make white noise (the sound source). I also used a wider range of materials, like egg cartons, packing foam, newspaper, smaller boxes that nest in the larger one, fibrefill from some old pillows, cardboard, etc. The first part of the activity consisted of groups iteratively testing and modifying their different designs, then finishing with a contest between groups where the students must remain quiet during testing to determine the winner. This got some creative thinking going.
I did this activity with my Grade 5 classes and they really enjoyed it. I used two smart phones, one with a sound level measuring app as in the description (Phyphox), and one with an app to make white noise (the sound source). I also used a wider range of materials, like egg cartons, packing foam, newspaper, smaller boxes that nest in the larger one, fibrefill from some old pillows, cardboard, etc. The first part of the activity consisted of groups iteratively testing and modifying their different designs, then finishing with a contest between groups where the students must remain quiet during testing to determine the winner. This got some creative thinking going.