Oklahoma Science 4.PS4.1

Science4th GradeWaves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

The Standard

Develop and use a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and to show that waves can cause objects to move.

Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science (2026)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students make and sketch waves with different heights and spacing. They mark amplitude from the rest line to a crest and wavelength from one crest to the next. They show how a passing wave moves an object.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student labels amplitude and wavelength on a wave sketch and compares two waves using those measurements. They explain why a ribbon tied to a rope moves when a wave passes.
Common Misconceptions: Students may measure amplitude from crest to trough instead of from the rest line. They may measure wavelength from a crest to the next trough. Some think an object must travel along with the wave rather than move up and down as it passes.
How to Assess It: Draw two waves with the same crest spacing but different heights. Ask students to label amplitude and wavelength, circle the wave with greater amplitude, and draw how a ribbon tied to the rope would move.

Lesson moves

Shake one end of a long rope up and down, with a ribbon tied midway, and sketch the wave and ribbon's motion.
Draw two waves with matching crest spacing but different heights; ask, "Which has greater amplitude, and what stays the same?"
Give pairs four wave cards to sort by amplitude and wavelength; have them mark the rest line and measure each distance.
Show a photo of an ocean buoy and have students sketch its up-and-down motion while waves pass beneath it.

Free download