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  • 4th Grade

    Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations

  1. Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and that waves can cause objects to move. 4-PS4-1

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

A Peformance Expectation (PE) is what a student should be able to do to show mastery of a concept. Some PEs include a Clarification Statement and/or an Assessment Boundary. These can be found by clicking the PE for "More Info." By hovering over a PE, its corresponding pieces from the Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts will be highlighted.

Science and Engineering Practices

Disciplinary Core Ideas

Crosscutting Concepts

By clicking on a specific Science and Engineering Practice, Disciplinary Core Idea, or Crosscutting Concept, you can find out more information on it. By hovering over one you can find its corresponding elements in the PEs.

Planning Curriculum

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy

  • SL.4.5 - Add audio recordings and visual displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes. (4-PS4-1)

Mathematics

  • 4.G.A.1 - Draw points, lines, line segments, rays, angles (right, acute, obtuse), and perpendicular and parallel lines. Identify these in two-dimensional figures. (4-PS4-1)
  • MP.4 - Model with mathematics. (4-PS4-1)

Model Course Mapping

First Time Visitors

Resources & Lesson Plans

  • More resources added each week!
    A team of teacher curators is working to find, review, and vet online resources that support the standards. Check back often, as NSTA continues to add more targeted resources.
  • From Vibrations to Vocalizations

    This unit is aligned to multiple Performance Expectations from the following topic arrangements: 4-PS4: Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer, and 4-LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes.  S ...

  • Waves- Sound

      This 5E unit includes seven learning experiences in which students: 1) observe the phenomenon of sound and develop an initial model to explain how we hear (Hearing Sound), 2) use telephone cups to investigate how sound can transfer from pla ...

  • Chinese Spouting Bowl in Slow Motion (Phenomenon)

    When watching this video, students will observe that vibrations are created when the handles of the Chinese Spouting Bowl are rubbed, resulting in sound waves that can be observed on the surface of the water in the bowl.  An understanding o ...

  • Sound Energy Unit, Grade 4

    In this phenomenon-driven instructional sequence, students will engage in a series of investigations to gather evidence and construct explanations as to how a singer is able to use his voice to shatter a glass.  They will look for patterns as th ...

  • Using Argument-Based Inquiry Strategies for STEM Infused Science Teaching

    This article explains how one teacher guided students’ learning in a series of lessons on waves.  Three-dimensional learning is evident as they investigate a series of phenomena to identify the big idea that “There are multiple types ...

  • Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Phenomenon)

    This one and half minute silent video shows the phenomenon of the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge located in Washington state.  The bridge opened to traffic on July 1, 1940 and collapsed only four months later on November 7, ...

  • The Neighborhood Telephone System

    Everyday Science Mysteries is an award-winning series that enables students to explore science phenomena/mysteries that occur in their everyday lives.  In this "Everyday Science Mystery" students explore the many variables that affect ...

  • Making Sense of Sound- December 2016 Science & Children Article

    This article describes a 5E lesson focused on the exploration of sound and sound waves. Many opportunities for hands-on investigations, discourse, and the use of technology are integrated into the lesson. Investigations follow where students talk and ...

  • Breaking the Sound Barrier

    Students explore and explain characteristics of sound through a series of hands-on learning centers and the sensory phenomena of waves produced by a "trashcan wave generator". Students sketch and explain what they discover at each of t ...

  • NJ Model Science Unit: Waves and Information

    Students plan and carry out investigations before developing and using models to describe patterns of waves in terms of amplitude and wavelength, and to demonstrate that waves can cause objects to move. Connections are made to real world example ...

  • Pop Bottle Waves and Hair Dryer Ripples

    This is the first lesson in a series of lessons on waves. It is an exploratory lesson where students observe, draw and think about how waves are shaped, how they move and what creates them. The teachers creates a model using a plastic bottles with co ...

  • What Are Waves?

    Students explore making waves using everyday objects to begin developing an understanding of how waves are made, that waves carry energy, and that there are different types of waves. Students investigate examples of transverse and ...

  • Breaking the Sound Barrier

    This 2007 "Science and Children" sound article shares ideas and instructional suggestions for four hands-on discovery centers to explore sound titled, 'Tuning Fork Vibrations', 'Rubber Band Guitars', 'Drum it Up' ...

  • Simon Says Big Amplitude, Small Wavelength!

    Found deep within this multi-unit document are directions for playing the game Simon Says! with waves. This simple simulation allows the students an opportunity to move around and participate in a guided model of amplitude and wavelength. The studen ...

  • Making Waves: How does energy move through water?

    This Science and Children article includes background information for the teacher and three investigations to share with the students. First, students create waves using a jump rope, then water, and then they model the movement of molecules using mar ...

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Planning Curriculum gives connections to other areas of study for easier curriculum creation.