NoisyToys

Learning Through the Creative Exploration of Sound

You are here: Home / What we do… / Workshops / Primary Workshops

Primary Workshops

Year 4 Sound and Circuits Sc4/4

Workshops designed to help year 4 with National Curriculum for Science Sc4/4.1 & Sc4/4.2 Sound and Electricity. Ideal as a fun introduction to the topics, or to reinforce lessons already undertaken. A day of workshops will help to explain these tricky subjects and will also give teachers plenty of confidence and ideas for continued activities around Sc4/4.

Scavengers Tinkering Workshop at Key Stage

A day of Scavengers workshops plus a free assembly show is perfect way to introduce or supplement learning about circuits and sound at Key Stage 2.

Making & Tinkering
– Nose Test
– Bass Buzz
– Oobleck
– Robotic Chicken
– Entropic Agitator

This workshop covers the science of sound and basic circuitry -applied to everyday technology such as motors, fans and speakers- whilst addressing environmental issues around waste, recycling and disposable electronics. Workshops encourage creative thinking, group work and experimentation and can be focussed more on one particular area if required (sound, circuits, sustainability).
Working in groups we open our boxes and find a load of junk inside; upcycled bits from broken computers that were thrown away! Using 9 volt rechargeable batteries and crocodile leads we connect the components to build weird noise machines like the Robotic Chicken, and then we get to play with them and experiment with the sounds we produce.

What to expect

Structure of the day

Most schools opt for an introductory show, followed by three workshops, or alternatively just four workshops. The show does not cost any extra if it is part of a full day of workshops. Some schools choose to have the whole school (or as many as can fit in) enjoy the show, even if just one year group is taking part in the workshops. More information about shows is available here.

Participatory experiments

The Nose Test is a perfect fun ice breaker for the group and helps understand the basics of circuitry in a very involved way, as the whole group becomes a giant circuit together, taking it in turns to switch on their friend’s nose.
We will also take part in the Bass Buzz, where we feel 1000 watts of bass vibrations through our fingers and maybe a Goop Test (non-newtonian fluids/cornflour/oobleck). We listen to vibrations that pass through solids instead of the air, and we produce spectacular laser-blasts with an amplified slinky that helps us to understand how sound waves work

Main Educational Themes

We cover a lot of subjects in this workshop, and if you would prefer for us to focus on one area in particular then we can go much deeper.

  • Sound and vibration: sound waves, frequency and amplitude, pitch and volume
  • Circuitry: components, resistance & conductivity, current flow, safety
  • Electromagnetism (basic): electromagnets used in loudspeakers, electromotors used in fans, using magnetism to move physical objects
  • Sustainability: Toxic & valuable materials, disposability, waste, recycling and upcycling
  • Music: Found sound, building, evaluating and developing instruments, using music technology, working in groups to improve our music

Main Content

Costs

– £400 day of workshops, optionally with a show
– £250 half day, optionally with a show
– discout rates between November and February
(£350/£200)
– travel (at 30p X miles) may need to be added for jobs over 50 miles from HX7 but there are usually ways to reduce or avoid these costs, especially if you have flexibility with dates. Please get in touch to discuss how we can make this work for you.

Information

– All workshops are led by Stephen Summers who is a qualified teacher with over ten years’ experience.
– Full enhanced DBS clearance.
– Full PLI insurance covers all workshops.
– Free assembly show at no extra cost
– Groups of up to 30
– 60-90 minutes/workshop
– practical requirements pdf here.

Testimonials

"Thanks so much for the Sound & Circuits workshops today - the children had a brilliant time and were talking about it to everyone at lunch!"
- Bridget Rudette, Heybrook Primary School

"The children were fascinated. It is science they will all remember because they enjoyed it so much."
-Liz Clover, Head teacher, Park Road Primary School

“Thank you for the fantastic ‘Bass in your Face’ workshop which both students and teachers here at Gildredge House School enjoyed immensely. It was really engaging and lots of fun as well as insightful about the science of sound. Stephen is a natural entertainer and teacher and it was one of the favourite workshops of the day by far.”
- Heather Beames, Deputy Head, Gildredge House

“I worked with Steve (Noisy Toys) as part of the Media Museum’s ‘Make Some Noise’ festival. This involved Steve delivering a host of sound based content in local schools, as part of our school engagement programme. Using a variety of multi-sensory tools and techniques, Steve establishes the principles of sound whilst alerting pupils to its wonders. His sessions are fun, inquisitive and open-ended. Moreover, they encourage pupils to explore sound beyond the classroom. This is fundamental to his practice: Noisy Toys spark passion in sound. Of the many schools that we visited, I could see pupils eyes (and ears) being opened to the subject. I am very happy to recommend Steve and Noisy Toys.”
- Mr Iain Hendry, Audience Developer, National Media Museum

"The young people who experience it and experiment enthusiastically with the sound making devices all gain a greater understanding of how sound works and have fun learning."
-Jason Butcher, Ucan.TV / Deputy Head Egerton High School (EBD)

"Thank you so much for enlightening the children about sound and electrical circuits; they particularly enjoyed the Nose Test!"
- Dawn Martin, Headteacher, Gossops Green Primary School

“The experimenting with sounds and noises was mesmerising to the young people and was stretching their minds with technical invention. If any artform is designed to get young people thinking outside of the box then this one will."
- Deborah Curtis, The House of Fairy Tales

"Our children had a fantastic time learning about different types of circuits and how to make a wide variety of sounds from different materials. Steve was an excellent teacher and the children responded very well to the interesting activities throughout the session. I would fully recommend Noisy Toys to any primary school who would like their children to learn more about electricity and sound production"
- Richard Street, Deputy Head, Bilton Grange Primary

"We've worked with Steve and Noisy Toys on a couple of projects in very different settings. Once in a primary school, when he ran a music science workshop that was the talk of the school for months after and again when he ran an activity and stage show on our feature at the Sunday Times Festival of Education. Unlike many other STEM demonstrators, Steve brings a uniquely magical raw creativity and personality to his work, combined with a ruthless professionalism and attention to detail. I highly commend him, his craziness and his hand picked team to you".
- Nick Corston, Co-founder/CEO STEAM Co.

“Steve provided a day of workshops on the Science of Sound at a ‘Science in a Nightclub’ event that I was coordinating during National Science and Engineering Week. His workshops were very well received and I would have no hesitation in using him again or recommending him for similar events”
-Claire Willis, Inspiring Science Coordinator, Science Learning Centre North East

“All classes really enjoyed it especially the hands-on nature of the activities. It was lots of fun and allowed everyone to get involved in playing with sounds and making music together. The sessions were adapted for each age group so everyone benefited from it. I have no hesitation in recommending Steve and Noisy Toys.”
- Carole Marret, Music Coordinator, Button Lane School

“I made a drum with a saucepan and it goes 'DONG!!!' really loud when you turn it up”
– Josh, 11

"I am writing to thank you for the enormous effort that you contributed personally to the Little House of Fairy Tales."
-Lindsey Woodford, Headteacher, St Saviours Primary School

'We learnt about how sound works and the sound waves and we made our own music'
– Leah, 13

“Noisy Toys was brought in for the young people to try and was an instant hit. Steve facilitated various 'toys' which enabled yp to create their own sound. One yp took the mic and performed a rhyme whilst another arranged some beats on a drum machine, with others adding live sounds. The yp enjoyed themselves and came away from the session asking for more.”
-Clare Donegan, Company Director, Outta Place

“I learnt how to put microphones on bits of metal and make instruments and then we learnt some beats and played them on our instruments”
– Kane, 11