The Sound of Science School Assembly
A high-energy science assembly about something students take for granted every day: sound. Hagerman covers amplitude, frequency and tone quality with gadgets, music and some very brave volunteers.
Your combination of science experiments, facts and humor was very entertaining and sparked the curiosity of many of the students.
The science assembly where it all began
The Sound of Science was David Hagerman’s first school assembly, and it’s still a favorite with elementary and middle schools across the country. Students are hooked before it even starts: as they walk in, Hagerman plays music they recognize on his keyboard.
Every age group gets its own show. Lower elementary and upper elementary see different versions of the assembly, and middle school students get more advanced science still. Book back-to-back shows and each group gets a performance matched to its grade level. Humor, excitement and a lot of real science keep everyone in the room paying attention.
He incorporated rich science content and a lot of laughter for the students and teachers! I highly recommend you bring him to your school.
What students see
- Breaking the sound barrier with a bull whip
- A large musical Tesla coil that plays songs with lightning
- A theremin, the instrument you play without touching it
- The quirky, singing Otamatone
- A giant Slinky that shows how sound waves move
- An oscilloscope that shows what sound looks like
- A cheerleader’s megaphone and a doctor’s stethoscope: steering and shaping sound
- Tuning forks and a keyboard sing-along
Routines vary by venue. Each performance is built for its space and audience, so a demonstration listed here may not appear in every show.
“He had great explanations and the motivation to become scientists has definitely increased. We will have him back!”
What students learn
How sound is made by vibrations and how it travels in waves, plus amplitude (loudness), frequency (pitch) and tone quality. A giant Slinky makes waveforms easy to see, and simple tools like an unpowered megaphone and a stethoscope show how we can steer and shape sound. Students leave listening to the world a little differently.
The Sound of Science video highlights
Short clips and highlights from real shows. Click any video to play it right here.
The Sound of ScienceThe original school show
The original meme“Make sure it’s on low”: the musical Tesla coilWhat schools say
“So many teachers said he was one of the best assemblies we’ve ever had — and this was our first in-person assembly in about 2 years!”
“Hagerman presented the best educational assembly that we’ve had in a long time.”
“This was the best assembly we have had at Fatima in my three years here as elementary principal!”
The Sound of Science assembly prices
For current prices, see our price list and daytime estimator, or call toll-free 1-888-725-8788. There are no travel fees when your school joins a tour already coming through your area.
