South Dakota Science 1-PS4-4
The Standard
Design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance. (SEP: 6; DCI: PS4.C, ETS1.B; CCC: Cause/Effect) Alignment may include K-2-ETS1-2
South Dakota Science Standards (2024) · Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students build a tool to send a message to someone across the room. They choose light or sound, agree on what the signal means, and test whether the other person understands it.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can build a signaling device and use it to send an agreed message across the room. If the message is missed, they can make a specific change and test it again.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think a cup phone works when its string is loose. They may assume a flashlight blink has a clear meaning without agreeing on a signal first.
How to Assess It
- Give pairs two paper cups, string, and a hole punch. Say, "Build a way to tell your partner 'come here' from ten feet away without shouting," then check whether the partner gets the message.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs two paper cups and string; have them build cup phones, test them ten feet apart, and tighten the string if needed.
Ask students to sketch and explain a light or sound signal for "come inside" across the playground without shouting.
Play Signal Swap: pairs point flashlights at a wall, send one blink for "stop" and two for "go," and name each message.
Show a photo of a pedestrian crossing signal; ask how its light tells people across the street when to walk.
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Printable 1-PS4-4 Worksheet
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