What are the characteristic properties and behaviors of waves?
Cycle Summary
Session
1
Elicit
Students complete a probe to identify prior knowledge about what a wave is.
Engage
Students watch a concert video and are introduced to the driving question for the module.
Session
2
Explore
Students construct a wave machine to observe the behavior of a wave, and complete a series of station activities on wave behaviors and properties.
Session
3
Explain
Students watch a video, read articles, and do a simulation about wave properties.
Session
4
Explain
Students watch a video, read articles, and do a simulation about wave properties.
Session
5
Elaborate
Students model seismic waves with a slinky and assess how earthquakes cause damage to Earth’s surface.
Session
6
Evaluate
Students complete an assessment on wave properties.
Extend
Extend
Students read an article on tsunamis and answer synthesis questions.
Cycle 1 Resources
Prior to this module, students should come with previous knowledge that light and sound are types of waves and can transmit energy. mySci Units 19 (4th grade) and Unit 8 (1st grade) can be used as references to materials and standards that students should encounter before 6th grade.
In this cycle, students are introduced to the driving question of the module: How can we as engineers design a concert experience for others to enjoy? To answer this question, students first must explore waves. Waves are how sound and light travel place to place during a concert. During this cycle, students will develop models of waves, models that show how waves behave at the particle level and the macroscopic level. They will also discover the cause and effect relationship between the energy and amplitude, and energy and frequency. This knowledge will lead them to understanding how sound and light behave because of the properties of the wave.
In the following concepts, students will apply the properties amplitude, frequency, and wavelength to light and sound.