Kwame's Sound Storybook

Overview

Deep in the rainforest of Ghana, young Kwame follows his father’s footsteps. His father is an acoustical engineer working with research biologists who use sound to track elephants’ movements. Kwame, who is blind, journeys with his father to check the technology used to record the varied sounds of elephant life. 

When Kwame “sees” how these elephant sounds are represented, he gets an idea that will help him solve his own problem: communicating his original drumming rhythm to his cousin in a far-off village. Will Kwame be able to represent his rhythm so that he and his cousin can drum “as one” at the upcoming festival? 

Readers are invited to create their own representations of a sound. With some creativity and knowledge of the engineering design process, everyone can engineer! 

Engineering Field: Acoustical Engineering

Science Field: Physical Sciences

Setting: Ghana