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Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource

Communicating with Light & Sound — 5E Lesson Plan

Physical Science · 35 minutes

Grade 1

5E lesson flow

  1. 01

    Engage

    5 min

    Teacher Does

    Pose the problem: communicate across the room without talking.

    Students Do

    Suggest possible ways to get a partner's attention.

    Ask

    • Could light help? Could sound help?

    Look For

    Ideas involving visible or audible signals.

  2. 02

    Explore

    9 min

    Teacher Does

    Demonstrate one versus two flashes and one versus two taps.

    Students Do

    Observe and identify how the patterns differ.

    Ask

    • What changed?

    Look For

    Students notice number/order of flashes or sounds.

  3. 03

    Explain

    6 min

    Teacher Does

    Introduce signal, message, pattern, and design.

    Students Do

    Match example signals to agreed meanings.

    Ask

    • What makes a signal useful?

    Look For

    The receiver can understand the intended message.

  4. 04

    Elaborate

    10 min

    Teacher Does

    Give pairs a message to communicate and support testing.

    Students Do

    Design, send, receive, and improve a light or sound signal.

    Ask

    • Did your partner understand? What could you change?

    Look For

    Iteration based on test results.

  5. 05

    Evaluate

    5 min

    Teacher Does

    Ask students to show one signal and explain its message.

    Students Do

    Demonstrate and explain using speech, pointing, or drawing.

    Ask

    • What information does your signal send?

    Look For

    A clear connection between signal and message.

Student goal

I can use light or sound to send a simple message.

Learning objectives

  • Design a simple device that uses light or sound to send an agreed message across a distance.
  • Test whether a receiver can correctly interpret the signal, then improve the design using the test result.

Materials

  • Flashlights
  • Paper cups or blocks
  • Signal cards
  • Crayons

Before class

  • Prepare simple message cards.
  • Pair students with enough distance to make communication meaningful.
  • Review flashlight safety.

Prior knowledge

  • Students know light can be seen and sound can be heard.
  • Students can count simple patterns.

Vocabulary

signal
A light, sound, movement, or sign that gives information.
message
Information sent from one person to another.
device
A tool made or used to do a job.
pattern
An ordered or repeating set of signals.
test
To try a design and observe whether it works.

Differentiation

  • Let students copy a teacher-modeled signal before inventing one.
  • Use picture message cards.
  • For extension, create a two-message signal system.

Assessment

  • Check whether students distinguish light and sound signals.
  • Observe whether the partner can interpret the signal.
  • Look for improvement after testing.

Exit ticket

Show one light or sound signal and tell what it means.

Extension

Create a classroom signal code with three agreed messages.