Waves & How They Move

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Waves, Light & Sound|Ages 9—10|ID: mt_ph4xZVMiVq

Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength, and understand that waves can cause objects to move

Mastery Evidence

Describe a wave using the terms amplitude (height) and wavelength (distance between peaks)
Demonstrate that larger amplitude means more energy (bigger waves move objects more)
Model wave patterns using a slinky, rope, or water and describe what they observe

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] use a slinky or rope to show how waves work, and explain that bigger waves have more energy and can move things more?”

Curriculum Standards1 alignment

4-PS4-1Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5codes only

Standard code — full text not included in this dataset.

Prerequisites3

Volume & Vibrations
softAges 8—9
Wave Behaviour Vocabulary
hardAges 9—11
Sound Travels Through Materials
hardAges 8—9

Show full prerequisite tree

Volume & Vibrations soft
Volume-vibration strength pattern supports understanding amplitude
- Vibrations & Sound hard
  Must understand vibrations make sound before finding volume patterns
  - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
    Understanding vibrating materials and sound requires 'vibration' vocabulary
  - Communication with Light & Sound hard
    Must understand how sound works before designing a communication device using it
    - Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
      Must understand how light works before designing a communication device using it
      - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
        Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
  Finding patterns in volume requires 'volume' and 'vibration' vocabulary
Wave Behaviour Vocabulary hard
Developing a wave model using amplitude and wavelength requires this technical vocabulary
Sound Travels Through Materials hard
Must understand sound travels through media before modelling wave properties
- Vibrations & Sound hard
  Must know sound comes from vibrations before learning vibrations travel through media
  - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
    Understanding vibrating materials and sound requires 'vibration' vocabulary
  - Communication with Light & Sound hard
    Must understand how sound works before designing a communication device using it
    - Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
      Must understand how light works before designing a communication device using it
      - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
        Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
  Describing vibrations travelling through a medium requires vibration vocabulary

Unlocks2

Wave Properties & Types
hardAges 11—12
Patterns & Codes for Information
softAges 9—10