Noisy Toys workshops and 'Bass in your Face' shows

Become part of an electrical circuit, feel one thousand watts of bass through your fingers and send lentils flying in the air with the power of amplified sound.

Workshops and assembly shows can be combined in any way during a day at your school. for example; an introductory show followed by three workshops.

Noisy Toys workshops and shows perfectly combine creative and scientific content with an emphasis on sustainability. In every workshop there will be laughter, a sense of wonder and discovery, experimentation, some unexpected surprises, and lots of weird noises including booming bass and squeaky noses. To make our noise machines we have to understand some of the basics of circuits and vibrations. We get to experiment, play, work in groups and problem solve. Creative thinking will be essential, but so will technical skills and theoretical understanding.

The Bass in your Face stage show is a loud and fast-paced exploration of sound and the workings of loudspeakers; especially big bass speakers! We will use powerful amplified bass vibrations and a hacked hard drive to make volcanic clouds of flour explode into the air, to scatter lentils for several metres, to animate dancing Goop monsters (cornflour/non-Newtonian fluids/Ooblek) and of course to shake the room with lovely low bass (sound levels are kept well within safe limits). The show focuses on sound waves, vibrations and the use of electromagnetism in the design and working of loudspeakers. 

Standard workshops are available for KS2 & KS3, with bespoke workshops available for older groups. All workshops and shows are delivered by Steve Summers (QTS). 

Please refer to our website for specific information about workshops aimed at KS2, KS3 and other groups: http://noisytoys.org/what-we-do/workshops/

- to inspire young people to get excited about STEM subjects 

- to show how easy and low-cost it is to have a go at 'making' (and 'un-making'!)

- using every-day applications of science and technology: music, sound and speakers

During the workshops everyone takes part in a 'hand-on' practical 'making' activity, and in doing so we learn about electronics and vibrations. The 'Bass in your Face' show uses the almost universal love of wobbly booming low-frequency sounds to grab the audiences attention. This make a perfect introduction to the day as the demonstrations are designed to complement the content of the workshops.

Main educational themes

​-Sound and vibration; sound waves, longitudinal & latitudinal waves, frequency and amplitude, vibrations through different mediums

-Circuitry; working with basic components, resistance & conductivity, current flow

-Electromagnetism; electromagnets used in loudspeakers, electromotors used in fans, using circuits to alter magnetic fields in order to move physical objects

-Design & Technology; Making, designing, adapting, properties of materials, use of electricity for functional purposes

-Sustainability; built-in obsolescence, recycling and upcycling

-Music; found sound, building, evaluating and developing instruments, using music technology, working in groups to improve our music

The STEM Directory is provided as a service to support you in finding enrichment opportunities. The activities are offered by external providers and are not endorsed by STEM Learning. We are not responsible for their content or delivery.