4-PS4-1
The standard
Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and that waves can cause objects to move.
Next Generation Science Standards
What this standard means
Students need to build and use simple models of waves. They should show that waves have repeating patterns, including how tall the wave is and how far apart the crests are. They also need to connect waves to motion, like a floating object bobbing when water waves pass.
Mastery looks like a student drawing, labeling, or building a wave model and explaining what changes when amplitude or wavelength changes. Common sticking points are mixing up amplitude and wavelength, thinking the material travels with the wave, or trying to measure with formulas instead of describing patterns.
Ways to teach it
- Use a jump rope or slinky to make waves, then have students point to crests, troughs, amplitude, and wavelength with sticky notes.
- Ask students to write: How is a wave like a moving pattern, and how is it not like a moving object?
- Show three wave drawings and ask students to circle the greatest amplitude and box the longest wavelength.
- Connect to a pond by sketching how a leaf moves up and down while ripples spread across the water.
Plan a lesson for 4-PS4-1
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Related standards
- MS-PS4-2
Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
- MS-PS4-1
Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave.
- HS-PS3-5
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- MS-PS3-2
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