Jamie Lampkins
Unit Plan on Waves
Unit
Focus
Waves
Mechanical Waves
Electromagnetic Waves
Wave Properties
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Standards
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Expectations
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S8CS8. Students will be familiar with the characteristics of scientific
knowledge and how it is achieved.
S8CS9. Students will understand the features of the process of scientific
inquiry.
S8P4. Students will explore the wave nature of sound and electromagnetic
radiation.
a. Identify the characteristics of electromagnetic and mechanical waves.
b. Describe how the behavior of light waves is manipulated causing
reflection, refraction diffraction, and absorption.
c. Explain how the human eye sees objects and colors in terms of
wavelengths.
d. Describe how the behavior of waves is affected by medium (such as air,
water, solids).
e. Relate the properties of sound to everyday experiences.
f. Diagram the parts of the wave and explain how the parts are affected by
changes in amplitude and pitch.
Students will be able to identify a compressional, transverse, mechanical,
and electromagnetic wave.
Students will be able to determine what waves are dangerous and why
waves behave the way they do in different circumstances.
Students will understand how waves affect the world as we see and hear
it.
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Waves move energy from one place to another. Light and sound are
examples of waves that carry energy.
Mechanical waves require a medium but electromagnetic waves do not.
Many characteristic of waves affect other characteristics (amplitude affects
pitch).
The characteristics of waves are affected by the medium through which they
are traveling.
Waves can change direction (refract, diffract, and/or reflect) when they
encounter matter.
The electromagnetic spectrum represents energy moving in an electric field
and a magnetic field. Visible light is a small part of the electromagnetic
spectrum that the human eye is capable of seeing. The colors of visible light
are created by electromagnetic energy of various frequencies.
Light interacts with matter by transmission (including refraction) and
absorption (including reflection). To see an object, light from that object
must enter the eye.
When white light is refracted it can be separated into its component colors.
Frequency determines the pitch of sound.
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What are the characteristics of mechanical and electromagnetic waves?
How do changes in one part of a wave affect other parts of a wave?
How are sound waves affected by changes in amplitude and pitch?
How waves affected by medium?
How does the human eye detect wavelengths?
How are the colors of light created?
How do light and sound transfer energy from one place to another?
Evidence
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Evaluation
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Class discussions that include explanations in their own words
Completion of classwork and homework
Presentations of projects
Create drawings, concept maps, and diagrams
Electromagnetic Wave Spectrum Diagram
Draw transverse wave picture with labels (amplitude, crest etc.)
Wave properties sorting assignment
Wave Jeopardy
Quizzes and Test
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Enduring
Understandings
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Essential
Questions
Entry Point
Experiences /
Instructional
Strategies
Resources
Timeline
Class Stadium Wave
Jump Rope Wave
Class Energy Transfer
Create a Rainbow Lab
Water Reflection Lab
Sounds Through Solids Lab
Making Waves Water Lab
Slinky Lab
Videos (Bill Nye, BrainPOP and others)
Engage – Class Openings, Sponges, Quick group activities
Explore – Labs, Match and Memory Games, Class Challenges
Explain – Labs, power points with discussions
Elaborate – Content maps, presentations, explanations
Evaluate – Exit tickets, lab conclusion, quizzes, and tests
• Interactive site for help with different electromagnetic
waves:
http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/vi
rtual_labs/CT05/CT05.html
• Site helps explain diffraction for sound and light waves:
http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/feschools/waves/diffr
act.php
• Video on visible light: http://www.neok12.com/php/watch.php?v=zX07720e5c
727b6974594f51&t=Light-Optics
• Sources of Sound online PowerPoint:
http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources/oceanodys
sey/flash/concepts/sourcesofsound.htm
• Slideshow on wave properties and their relationship with
each other:
http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/schools/lesson2/flash
/relation.swf
• Interactive website for the manipulation of frequency
and amplitude:
http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/schools/lesson2/flash
/relation.swf
• Video on how density of a wave medium affects the
wave:
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.ph
ys.energy.waves/what-is-a-wave/
8 Weeks
(2 weeks - Mechanical and Electromagnetic Waves)
(2 weeks – Wave Properties)
(2 weeks – Sound Waves)
(2 weeks – Light Waves)
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