Students explore how waves — in water, sound, and light — carry energy from place to place, and learn to measure a wave by its amplitude, wavelength, and frequency.
Students will be able to…
A wave crosses the whole ocean, but the water mostly stays put. How can a wave travel and carry energy without carrying the stuff it moves through?
Project this and change the amplitude and wavelength. Watch the wave reshape, and connect amplitude to energy and wavelength to frequency.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
A wave crosses the ocean, but the water stays put — how?
Students investigate.
Teacher explains.
Apply.
Three quick checks.
Aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core literacy. State-standard crosswalks available on request.
Use mathematical representations to describe a wave’s amplitude, wavelength, and frequency and their relationship to energy.
Develop a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted.
Integrate information to support that digital signals are a reliable way to encode information.
Integrate quantitative information with text in a model.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students model both a transverse wave (up-down, like light) and a longitudinal wave (push-pull, like sound) with a spring. A printable wave-lab sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.