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Science · Grade 4

Waves and Information

Waves carry energy without carrying the water along: a floating cork just bobs up and down. Learners model waves with amplitude and wavelength, then model how we see: light from a source bounces off objects and enters our eyes. Finally they use patterns such as flash codes and pixel grids to send information, and compare different solutions for communicating across a distance.

  • 3 lessons
  • About 100 minutes
  • Waves, seeing and information check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, label a picture, match pairs, type a number, put in order and arrange tiles
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What learners will discover

  • Use a model of waves to describe amplitude and wavelength, and explain that waves carry energy that can make objects move.
  • Use a model to explain that objects are seen when light reflects from them and enters the eye.
  • Use patterns to send information and compare solutions for transferring information.

Lessons

  1. Modeling waves 6 steps4 practiceabout 33 min
  2. How we see 5 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  3. Patterns carry information 7 steps3 practiceabout 37 min
  4. Waves, seeing and information check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Marble MountainLay straights, curves, drops and splitters to roll marbles down the mountain.
  • Bridge LabBuild a bridge from beams, brace it with triangles, and stay on budget.
  • Circuit Workshop 3DWire up batteries, bulbs and switches on a 3D workbench.

More 4th grade science

Guide for grown-ups