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    Home » How to Make a Stethoscope

    How to Make a Stethoscope

    January 20, 2013 By Emma Vanstone 13 Comments

    Stethoscopes are used to listen to a person’s heart and breathing. We can make a very basic stethoscope easily using just a cardboard tube, tape and a funnel.

    Make a Stethoscope

    How to make a stethoscope

    What you need:

    Kitchen roll tube

    Gaffer tape/ Duct tape

    Small funnel

    Instructions

    First try using just the kitchen roll tube. Place on a friend’s and listen. Can you hear their heart beating?

    Next tape the funnel into one end of the kitchen roll. Listen to a friend’s chest again, does it sound clearer?

    Make a prediction –  what do you think would happen to your heart rate if you did some star jumps? hint – will the heart have to beat faster?

    Trying counting the number of beats before and after some exercise. Can you record this data on a chart?

    Image of a child using a DIY stethoscope to listen to a young boys chest.
    Stethoscope made using a funnel and cardboard tube

    How does a stethoscope work?

    Stethoscopes used by doctors consist of a chest piece, rubber tubes and earpieces. The chest piece consists of a diaphragm and bell which amplify the sound of the heart beating so the doctor can hear it.

    Download our FREE stethoscope experiment printable here:

    How to make a Stethoscope

    Extension activity

    How could you make the stethoscope better? What if you used a hose with a funnel at each end? Or different sized funnels? Which do you think would work the best?

    Complements KS2 Science

    Learning about the body, planning experiments and making predictions.

    More human body science for kids

    Find out how exercise affects heart rate with this easy investigation.

    Make a model brain with play dough to learn about the different hemispheres.

    Learn about the human body with this fun collection of ideas, including making a model lung, drawing body parts and more.

    Last Updated on July 12, 2021 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Aleacia

      January 21, 2013 at 3:33 am

      This is so neat and simple! My girls just recently got to hear our puppies heartbeat at the Vet’s office and they were thrilled. I bet they would love to try this. I wonder if they’d be able to hear the baby I’m expecting’s heartbeat…time for a science experiment!

      Reply
    2. Deborah

      January 21, 2013 at 7:51 am

      You know, I think this would be a wonderful way to explore sound in general. I think you should rename this as a sound machine or listening machine:) We purchased little phones that let the children hear their own voices. The goal is so they can begin to hear the sound they make when working on phonics or phonemic awareness. Your stethoscope reminds me just a bit of our phones.

      Reply
    3. maryanne @ mama smiles

      January 24, 2013 at 2:33 pm

      I love the simplicity of this! And that Spiderman is getting a checkup 🙂

      Reply
    4. Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum

      February 11, 2013 at 9:27 pm

      This is fantastic I’m going to be making one to help T understand what the doctors are doing with her.

      Thank you so much for linking up to Tuesday Tots and just to let you know I will be featuring this over on Rainy Day Mum this week.

      Reply

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