Nancy Wilson Chang changn@edmonds.wednet.edu 425.431.4616
Cathy Webb webbc@edmonds.wednet.edu
Guitar Building & Beyond
Approximate Grade Level: 9th - 12th
M/W 1:00 PM – 2:55 PM
(A supply fee is required for this course)
Course Description:
Guitars in the classroom? Absolutely. This National Science Foundation STEM Guitar
Building Project provides innovative experience in collaborative design and rapid
manufacturing. Students participate in an intense guitar design/build project. Each
student builds his/her own custom electric guitar and engages in student centered learning
activities that relate the guitar design to specific Science, Technology, Math, and
Engineering (STEM) topics. Once the guitar project is successfully completed, students
will focus their novice design and manufacturing skills on an additional challenge.
Progress/Evaluation Methods:
Through the formative assessment process, students will self-assess and receive feedback
from instructors. Success will be demonstrated through the design and manufacturing
process of creating custom, high functioning electronic instruments which students will
present as final products.
Credits: Students successfully completing this yearlong course with a score of 80% or
higher are eligible for a 1.0 high school credit. Additional WSLP documented learning
components are not required to receive credit for this course.
Resources: National Science Foundation STEM Guitar Building Project Curriculum,
National Science Foundation Construction Kit, tools, paint, and other supplies necessary
for construction, computers, technology, online resources, and the Common Core
Mathematics Standards: http://www.corestandards.org/Math/
Course Goal: Students will develop and use novice design and manufacturing skills to
build their very own custom electric guitars while learning the related Science,
Technology, Math, and Engineering (STEM) topics specified in the following learning
objectives.
Objectives:
SCIENCE OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will calculate the pressure of sound waves based and identify how sound is
transmitted using transverse and longitudinal waves and will relate this to parts on an
electric guitar and amplifier.
2. Students will identify the amplitude, wavelength, crest, and trough in a transverse
wave, understand the difference between transverse and longitudinal (compression)
waves and examine the wave characteristics of frequency and wavelength.
Nancy Wilson Chang
Mathematics
Edmonds Heights K-12
2015-16
3. Students will measure the length, mass, and peak frequency for each guitar string,
calculate the velocity on the six guitar strings based on their data, and will use the basic
equation for the speed of a wave, in relation to the fact that the wavelength of the first
harmonic is twice as long as the guitar string.
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will determine a variety of measurements and define constraints to engineer
their unique guitar.
2. Students will use technical sketches, design principles, and technical tools and
processes to manufacture specific guitar components.
3. Students will use spreadsheets and equations to capture design intent and apply design
intent to 3D CAD models of guitar components.
4. Students will devise a design/manufacturing plan, write a tool list, and complete
required information for tools used in the manufacturing process.
5. Students will work in a 3D modeling application using non-native file formats to
access and print necessary files to assemble the guitar.
6. Students will differentiate between “built in intelligence” and “random design”.
7. Students will analyze the effects that capturing design intent has downstream on
manufacturing processes and machinability and distinguish between materials and
processes.
MATH OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will calculate the sound level in decibels using logarithms and will
extrapolate data from a chart to use in a mathematical analysis.
2. Students will demonstrate understanding of the concepts of string instrument scale
length and how fret locations are determined by calculating the exact fret locations and
will be able to calculate how much string post has turned based on knob turn amount
expressed as degrees or fractional turns and will be able to calculate the linear distance of
a string movement.
3. Students will compare calculated prediction to real-world application.
Activities: STEM Learning Activities in the following disciplines: Physical Science,
Math, Engineering, and Technology include guitar body, neck, fret board selection and
preparation, headstock design, fretting, electronic installation, neck Installation and setup,
intonation, and final presentations. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES: Lesson and project
overviews, Science, technology, engineering, and math applications, Problem solving,
Cooperative learning, Experiential learning, Mathematical modeling, Computers,
Discussion, Curriculum-based assignments, Homework
Nancy Wilson Chang
Mathematics
Edmonds Heights K-12
2015-16