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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Waves carry energy, not the water itself

Light, sound and waves

CCSS NGSS.4-PS4-1England: KS3 Physics: Waves (observed waves)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Waves carry energy, not the water itself.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Parts of a wave: crest, trough, amplitude and wavelength

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Slinky or rope, Mirrors and torches, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Parts of a wave: crest, trough, amplitude and wavelength). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. True or false? Wavelength is measured from one crest to the next. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Two are points (top and bottom); two are distances (across and up).
  2. True or false? The crest is the top of a wave. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Two are points (top and bottom); two are distances (across and up).
  3. True or false? Amplitude is measured from the middle line, not from the trough. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Two are points (top and bottom); two are distances (across and up).

Hook · 3 min

  • Ask the class to make a wave with a rope or slinky and describe what moves and what doesn't.
  • Share the objective: Waves carry energy, not the water itself. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Ocean waves can turn machines that make electricity. What are they using?
  • Step 1: Wave power is a renewable energy resource that captures wave energy.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: the energy the waves carry
  • Answer: the energy the waves carry
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Drop a stone in a still pond. What carries energy out to the edge? (the fish / the stone rolling along the bottom / the ripples spreading out in circles / the wind) → the ripples spreading out in circlesPrompt: Watch the rings spread.
  2. True or false? Waves transfer energy from place to place. (True / False) → TruePrompt: What travels with a wave, and what stays behind?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. True or false? Bigger waves carry less energy. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: What travels with a wave, and what stays behind?
  2. Ocean waves can turn machines that make electricity. What are they using? (fish swimming past / the energy the waves carry / the salt in the water / the colour of the sea) → the energy the waves carryPrompt: Waves can push heavy things.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Parts of a wave: crest, trough, amplitude and wavelength.
  • Use concrete materials: slinky or rope.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Waves carry energy, not the water itself

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    True or false? Sound is a wave.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Ocean waves can turn machines that make electricity. What are they using?

    • A. the colour of the sea
    • B. fish swimming past
    • C. the energy the waves carry
    • D. the salt in the water

  3. Question 3

    Waves and energy: which statement is true?

    • A. Surfers are carried by water travelling across the whole ocean.
    • B. A wave can travel without any energy.
    • C. The bigger a sea wave's amplitude, the more energy it carries.
    • D. Ripples on a pond carry the stone to the edge.

  4. Question 4

    True or false? A floating ball bobs up and down as waves pass.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    In a stadium "Mexican wave", what travels around the stadium?

    • A. the stadium roof
    • B. the seats
    • C. the pattern of standing up, not the people
    • D. the people themselves

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Waves only happen in water.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Waves carry energy, not the water itself

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. C. the energy the waves carry

  3. 3. C. The bigger a sea wave's amplitude, the more energy it carries.

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. C. the pattern of standing up, not the people

  6. 6. B. False