To bring to life their study of the science of sound and light, students from eighth grade Science and Computer Science and Design Engineering (CSDE) classes designed concert venues for an artist of their choice. While building these small-scale venues, students experimented with software and hardware tools and modeled how sound may be reflected, absorbed, and diffused throughout their concert halls. They used the Microsoft MakeCode editor to program a synchronized light show, integrating micro:bit controllers with NeoPixel LED strips. The lights were timed to match the beat and changed color with the mood of their chosen music. Over the course of the project, students helped each other improve their designs with multiple opportunities to share peer-to-peer feedback.

After working in the classroom, the students displayed their completed concert venues in a gallery walk inside the Garage. With the room lights off, the miniature stages came to life, and students asked each other questions about their engineering choices while offering observations.

“I chose ‘Sky Full of Stars’ by Coldplay, and it influenced my design through the colors,” said Sydney ’29. “I thought of the song as sad, progressively becoming happy, so I started with blue glitter and made it warmer, representing the change in mood. Also, I started the code when the song says ‘light,’ and the strip slowly lights up!”

Throughout this Science and CSDE collaboration, the students got to exercise their creativity, improve their design and engineering skills, and demonstrate their understanding of sound and light.

“The coolest thing I learned during the course of this project was that one can manipulate the behaviors of sound,” explained Robert ’29. “Essentially, by using different surfaces you can direct, scatter, or absorb sound waves. This is especially useful when considering acoustics in a room or a concert venue, when one might want to alter, eliminate, or focus sound to certain places.”

“The students have been studying the behavior of both mechanical and electromagnetic waves,” said Eighth Grade Science teacher Allison Houghton. “The hope with this project was to show the intersection of science, computer science and design, and artistic expression, as well as showing students connections to their work beyond the classroom. It was a wonderful experience to collaborate with Mary Kiang’s computer science students so they can develop their design skills alongside their scientific understanding.”