Physical Science · Waves & Information
Waves & Sound
Build and revise qualitative wave models to compare amplitude and wavelength, use physical evidence to reason about wave-caused motion, and explain one limit of a model for sound.
Teacher workspace
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50 min~8 min prep5 materialsNGSS verified · 4-PS4-1
Lesson Plan
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Lesson overview
What students will learn
- Use a model to identify and compare amplitude and wavelength in repeating wave patterns.
- Use evidence from a physical model to explain that a wave can transfer a disturbance and cause an object to move without the material traveling with the wave.
Key science ideas
- Amplitude describes wave height in the model.
- Wavelength describes spacing between repeating matching points.
- Two waves can have the same wavelength but different amplitudes, or the same amplitude but different wavelengths.
Lesson at a glance
- Grade 4
- 50 min
- ~8 min prep
- 4-PS4-1
- 5 materials
What’s included
- Lesson Plan
- Investigation
- Teacher Slides
- Printable Worksheet
- Teacher Answer Key
- Interactive Activity
- Vocabulary