Learning Activity

Light and Sound Waves

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

8

Overview

In this activity, the student will use Readworks "Sound Waves" to learn about waves.  The students will read an article and answer questions. Finally, students will create a Venn Diagram to demonstrate how light and sound are different.

This activity was created as a result of the Alex Resource Development Summit.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 8

SC15.8.18

Use models to demonstrate how light and sound waves differ in how they are absorbed, reflected, and transmitted through different types of media.

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.8.18

Vocabulary

  • Light
  • Sound
  • Absorption
  • Reflection
  • Transmission
  • Media
  • Transparent
  • Translucent
  • Opaque
  • Frequency
  • Amplitude
  • Wavelength
  • Electromagnetic waves

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A medium is not required to transmit electromagnetic waves.
  • A sound wave, a type of mechanical wave, needs a medium through which it is transmitted.
  • When a sound wave strikes an object, it is absorbed, reflected, or transmitted depending on the object's material.
  • When a light wave shines on an object, it is absorbed, reflected, or transmitted depending on the object's material and the frequency of the light.
  • The path that light travels can be traced as straight lines, except at surfaces between different transparent materials (e.g., air and water, air and glass) where the path of light bends.
  • The absorption, reflection, and transmission of light and sound waves can be identified by observing relevant characteristics of the wave, such as frequency, amplitude, and wavelength.
  • Materials with certain properties are well-suited for particular functions (e.g., lenses and mirrors, sound absorbers in concert halls, colored light filters, sound barriers next to highways).

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Develop models of light and sound waves and identify the relevant components.
  • Describe the relationships between components of the model.
  • Use observations from the model to provide causal accounts for events and make predictions for events by constructing explanations.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Light and sound waves differ in how they interact with different types of media.
  • The absorption, reflection, and transmission of light and sound waves depends on the type of media through which they are transmitted.
  • Materials with certain properties are well-suited for particular functions (e.g., lenses and mirrors, sound absorbers in concert halls, colored light filters, sound barriers next to highways).

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

Crosscutting Concepts

Structure and Function

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

The student will create a Venn Diagram to demonstrate how light and sound waves are different.  

The student will answer questions to demonstrate how light and sound waves are different. 

Activity Details

  1. The students will log into Readworks.
  2. The teacher will have the students read and answer the questions from Readworks Sound Waves.
  3. After the students have read and answered the questions in Readworks Sound Waves, the teacher will make a noise and ask the students how were they able to hear the sound.  (Possible answer is: with their ears)
  4. The teacher will then ask, how did the sound get to their ears and have the students to draw their response on the back of their Venn diagram sheet.  
  5. The teacher will ask the students how are they able to see different images.  (Possible answer is: with their eyes)
  6. The teacher will ask how did the image get to their eyes and have the students to draw their response on the back of their Venn diagram sheet. 
  7. Next, the teacher will have the students complete a Venn diagram to compare and contrast light waves and sound waves. 
  8. Finally, the teacher will lead a class discussion on how light and sound waves differ in how they are absorbed, reflected, and transmitted through different types of media.

 

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

The teacher will access the students' work using one or all of the following:

Variation Tips

If technology is not available for individual students, the teacher can print Readwork- 

https://www.readworks.org/article/Sound-Waves/56ea857b-9162-444b-99d0-47589f06a0a2#!questionsetsSection:3676/vocabularySection:describe/articleTab:content/

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

The teacher will need to do the following:

  • Create a free Readwork.org account, as well as, create a class in Readwork.org. 
  • Input students into the class and distribute the class code and student passwords. 
  • Print Venn Diagram

Digital Tools / Resources

Sound Waves/ Readworks
https://www.readworks.org/article/Sound-Waves/56ea857b-9162-444b-99d0-47589f06a…

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

kpayton
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