teaching resource

Cup and String Phone - Science Sound Investigation

  • Updated

    Updated:  10 Jun 2025

Build and test a cup and string phone to investigate the transmission of sound waves through different media.

  • Editable

    Editable:  Google Slides

  • Non-Editable

    Non-Editable:  PDF

  • Pages

    Pages:  4 Pages

  • Curriculum
  • Years

    Years:  1 - 2

Curriculum

teaching resource

Cup and String Phone - Science Sound Investigation

  • Updated

    Updated:  10 Jun 2025

Build and test a cup and string phone to investigate the transmission of sound waves through different media.

  • Editable

    Editable:  Google Slides

  • Non-Editable

    Non-Editable:  PDF

  • Pages

    Pages:  4 Pages

  • Curriculum
  • Years

    Years:  1 - 2

Build and test a cup and string phone to investigate the transmission of sound waves through different media.

Investigate Sound With a Cup and String Phone

Ready to bring the science of sound to life in your classroom? This printable resource pack invites your students to build and experiment with a classic cup-and-string phone! Designed for elementary learners, this hands-on activity helps them explore how sound waves move through solids and how vibrations carry messages from one place to another.

Using simple materials and guided instructions, your students will experience the excitement of discovery while constructing their own working cup and string phone models.

Build and Experiment With a Paper Cup Telephone

This cup and string phone experiment includes everything you need to teach the science behind a paper cup telephone. Students will build a phone using paper cups and a piece of string, then test how well it works across different distances and conditions. The included worksheets guide students through:

  • Making predictions
  • Recording observations
  • Answering reflection questions about how sound travels

This cup and string phone experiment makes the perfect science centre or small group investigation and works well during a unit on sound, communication, or energy transfer.

Download Your Cup and String Telephone Activity

Let your students become sound scientists! With this cup and string telephone activity, your class will explore how sound vibrations move through the string and reach the other cup. This printable pack includes:

  • Step-by-step instructions
  • A materials list
  • Experiment recording sheets

Ready to get your lesson plans under wraps? Your new resources are ready and waiting. Give that dropdown arrow on the Download button a click for your choice of Editable Google Slides or easy-to-print PDF. Download, Print, and Go!


Resources to Pair With Your String and Cup Telephone Experiment

Your string and cup telephone experiment pack is ready to print and use in the classroom today! This engaging science experiment supports lessons on sound and energy and is ideal for students in primary years.

We recommend pairing this string and cup telephone experiment with:

[resource:5029824]   [resource:5030158]   [resource:5030052]

0 Comments

Write a review to help other teachers and parents like yourself. If you'd like to request a change to this resource, or report an error, select the corresponding tab above.

Log in to comment

You may also like