4th Grade exploring forms of energy: Light and Sound

Scope and sequence

Suggested Time Frame: 4th Grade Science Curriculum Map

• 4th Nine Weeks- Consult the 4th Grade Science Curriculum Map for specific details.

The 4th Grade Science Curriculum Map outlines the following information:

• 1. Recommended pacing, scope, and sequence for each unit.

  2. Alignment with standards, conceptual understandings, and performance indicators

  3. Links to Unit Concept Storyboard Maps, Content and SEP Support Documents, and Curriculum Guides

  4. Details for Evidence of Understanding, Essential Learning Experiences, and Suggested Learning Engagements

  5. Where appropriate, alignment with specific FOSS, DSM, GEMS, and STC kit Activities and Investigations

Learning goals, skills, and concepts

Learning Goals

• Students will gather evidence from observations and investigations to support claims that white light is composed of different colors of light.

• Students will gather, analyze and interpret data from investigations to describe how the apparent brightness of light can be affected by the intensity of the light and the distance from the light.

  • In order to gather quantitative measurement data your students will need to use a light meter, such as the Lux Camera iOS app or Google Sci Journal app.

• Students will gather data from investigations to explain how light is necessary for visibility.

• Students will gather data from investigations to develop models to illustrate how light interacts with different materials, resulting in reflection, refraction, or absorption.

• Students will gather data from investigations to construct explanations for how light behaves when it strikes transparent, translucent, and opaque materials.

• Students will conduct investigations to gather, analyze, and interpret data about how sound is produced through vibrations and how changing the nature of the vibrations results in changes in volume and pitch.

  • In order to gather quantitative measurement data your students will need to use a sound meter, such as the Decibel 10th iOS app or Google Sci Journal app.

• Students will define problems related to communicating over distances and design and test solutions.

Skills and Concepts

• Analyze and Interpret Data- SEP Support Document

• Develop and Use Models- SEP Support Document

• Obtain and Communicate Information- SEP Support Document

• Construct Scientific Arguments- SEP Support Document

• Plan and Carry Out Investigations- SEP Support Document

• Define Problems and Design Solutions- SEP Support Document

• White Light and Colors- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Brightness- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Visibility- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Reflection, Refraction, and Absorption- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Pitch and Volume- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Changes in Vibration- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Communicating Over Distance- Essential Knowledge Support Document

Science Concept Storyboard

This link will take you to a print-friendly version of the science concept storyboard.

Lessons and activities

Light and Sound Unit Planning Support Doc

Potential Instructional Strategies/Lessons/Examples

• Color and Light (DSM Kit) Investigations 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10

• Sound (DSM Kit) All Investigations

• "Visibility: The Light/Dark Box" Activity

• "Distances vs. Brightness" Activity

• "Transparent, Translucent, or Opaque" Activity

• "Brightness and Color" Activity

• Pearson SC Interactive Science Textbook:

  • How Bright is that Light pg. 2

  • What are some colors in White Light pg. 5

  • Rainbows in Light Quick Lab pg. 8

  • How does light interact with objects pg. 13

  • Transparent, Translucent, Opague (from old curriculum guide) http://www.s2temsc.org/uploads/1/8/8/7/18873120/science_4th_grade_4-5.4_final.doc

  • Effect of sound made by rubber band pg. 19

  • What makes sound change pg. 24

  • STEM Activity Sound and Temperature pg. 26 (goes over heat from 3rd grade and connects to echolocation from the animals unit)

• AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 4th Grade Physical Science

  • Rainbow Rounds

  • Prism Play

  • Rainbow Disc

  • Light Reflections

  • The Pharaoh’s Chambers

  • Lights Rays Slow Down

  • Prism Paths

  • Prism Periscope

  • What’s Blocking the Light?

  • Foiled by Oil

• AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 3rd Grade Physical Science

  • Sounds

  • Vibrations Make Sounds

  • Musical Instruments

  • Volume Up, Volume Down

  • Crowing Cups

  • Musical Bottles

  • Slinky Sound

  • Amplicups

• Pitch and Frequency (4.P.4B.1 and 2)

  • This activity, from the TeachEngineering website, is a simple investigation into how changing the vibrations of an object affect the pitch and frequency of the sound produced

• Simple Instruments (4.P.4B.1 and 2)

  • This activity, from the TeachEngineering website, is an investigation where students make different simple musical instruments and then test how to change the pitch and volume of the sound they produce.

• Potential Questions for students to research to dig deeper into these topics:

  • How do animals see at night?

Additional Resources

• iOS Apps:

  • Lux Camera App- quantitative data collecting with light

  • Decibel 10th App- quantitative data collecting with volume

• Web Resources:

  • Mysteryscience.com (free membership, you do need to sign up)

  • Make Your Own Gong - http://www.kcedventures.com/blog/the-science-of-sound-waves-an-awesome-experiment-for-kids

  • http://www.optics4kids.org/

  • http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/light.html wide variety of experiments (a few hands on, mostly computer based) and demonstrations to help students interact and understand light

  • http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sound.html same as above, but for sound

  • http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/energy-light-sound/sound.htm study jams for sound and vibrations

  • http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/energy-light-sound/light.htm study jams for light

  • http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/energy-light-sound/light-absorb-reflect-refract.htm study jams for reflection, refraction, absorption

  • https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/van_troll_lesson02_activity1 Teach Engineering - reflection, refraction, absorption

• National Geographic Video Resource:

  • As with any video resource, teachers should carefully preview and vet any videos before showing them to students.