Handouts are available below

Big Idea

Are you looking for a super creative project that has students learn about cell organelles? In this episode, I share one with you – one that my colleagues have said, on one hand, that it’s creative and innovative. But, those same colleagues have also said that it’s me going off the deep end – wondering what I was thinking or what I was “on” when I came up with it. I call it the cell soundtrack project, and we can do it using some sounds off the GarageBand app or anywhere else you can get sounds. My grade 8 students are currently having a blast doing it. And, I want to challenge teachers and students out there to go off the deep end with us and create a collection of cell soundtracks together. 

The #cellsoundtrack Project

Before introducing the project, I ask students what an audio collage of the school would sound like? What school sounds would be included in this audio track? Some students say the squeaking of shoes on the gym floor, the shuffling of books when class is over, the school bell, students talking loudly in the cafeteria, etc. A soundtrack to the school would have all those sounds playing all at once.

Then, I introduce the project by asking what an audio collage of a cell would sound like? What would all the cell organelles sound like if they were a bunch of instruments or sounds playing together? My students need to figure this out and produce a soundtrack. During class time, I lend iPads (from our school library) to my students to have them figure it out in the Garageband app. Note: we’re using the live loops feature in GarageBand for this assignment.

For example, the cell membrane functions as the shell that separates the inside of the cell from the outside. To me, a cell membrane could sound like a clave, which is a hollow shell sound. Check the video to see.

Now, I stress to students that what I’m marking them on is their ability to communicate how they connected the function of an organelle to the sound they chose. Thus, they can’t just choose random sounds that sound cool together.

For example, I think the cytoplasm is the setting for the organelles, it’s where organelles reside, it’s like the background of a painting or a movie set or song. Thus, to me, it sounds like a bass guitar playing in the background. As for the nucleus, the nucleus drives the function of the cell. Thus, to me, a nucleus sounds like a good strong drum rhythm that pushes the pulse of a song.

What’s interesting about this project is that not everyone agrees with the sounds. A colleague of mine feels the nucleus should be the lead guitar in front of a band – because lead guitars play the melody of a piece – and that’s a valid justification too.

After students pick loops to organelles, they set the sounds to animation. This animation starts with the cell membrane, then 5 seconds later, the cytoplasm appears, and 5 seconds later, the nucleus appears and another and another until all of them are present.  The animation builds the cell one organelle and sound at a time until all are there, and then starts taking away one organelle and sound at a time in reverse until only 1 remains. You can view the full animation with soundtrack on Youtube.

If you want a copy of the animation, download a copy in the Resources section below. To participate in our cell soundtrack collection, add your soundtrack to the animation and upload the clip to YouTube. Include #cellsoundtrack in your description. I’m looking forward to hearing what other students besides my own come up with.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll talk science again soon.

Resources

Handout(s): Ep46 Handout – Cell Soundtrack Table, Cell Animation [Video]

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