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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 60 minutes

Send messages with light and sound

Light, sound and waves

CCSS NGSS.1-PS4-4England: KS2 Y3 LightEngland: KS2 Y4 Sound

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Send messages with light and sound.

  • 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: Find the part that vibrates to make the sound; Why we need light to see things

Leads to: Send and decode messages using patterns

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

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Find the part that vibrates to make the sound; Why we need light to see things). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What vibrates to make the sound of a loudspeaker? (the stretched skin on top / the metal triangle / your vocal cords in your throat / the cone at the front) → the cone at the frontPrompt: Which part moves back and forth when the sound is made?
  2. A cat's eyes seem to shine in the dark when a car's headlights catch them. Is the cat making light? (Yes, cats' eyes are light sources. / No, it is the Moon making the eyes. / No, its eyes are reflecting the headlights. / Yes, but only at night.) → No, its eyes are reflecting the headlights.Prompt: Would the eyes shine if there were no light at all?
  3. Which part of a drum must you hit to make a sound? (the stretched skin / the air around it / the strap / the floor under it) → the stretched skinPrompt: Which part can wobble?

Hook · 6 min

  • Ask the class to make a wave with a rope or slinky and describe what moves and what doesn't.
  • Share the objective: Send messages with light and sound. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Does this signal use light, sound or both: a doorbell?
  • Step 1: These signals are heard, so they work even if you cannot see them.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: sound
  • Answer: sound
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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. Does this signal use light, sound or both: a school bell? (light / sound / both light and sound) → soundPrompt: Do you see it, hear it, or both?
  2. Ships at sea at night watch for a lighthouse. What message does its light send? (Fish are nearby. / The sea is warm today. / Danger: rocks or land are near here. / It is time for dinner.) → Danger: rocks or land are near here.Prompt: Why would a ship need to know where the coast is?

You do: independent practice · 17 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Ships at sea at night watch for a lighthouse. What message does its light send? (The sea is warm today. / It is time for dinner. / Fish are nearby. / Danger: rocks or land are near here.) → Danger: rocks or land are near here.Prompt: Why would a ship need to know where the coast is?
  2. What message does this signal send: a car's flashing orange indicator on the left? (The car is about to turn left. / Playtime is over; go back to class. / There may be a fire: get out. / Stop and wait.) → The car is about to turn left.Prompt: Where would you meet this signal, and what should you do?

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: Find the part that vibrates to make the sound.
  • 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

  • Move on to: Send and decode messages using patterns.
  • 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-1.

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

eurekami

Send messages with light and sound

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Does this signal use light, sound or both: a pedestrian crossing that beeps and shows a green figure?

    • A. light
    • B. sound
    • C. both light and sound
  2. Question 2

    Ships at sea at night watch for a lighthouse. What message does its light send?

    • A. The sea is warm today.
    • B. Fish are nearby.
    • C. It is time for dinner.
    • D. Danger: rocks or land are near here.
  3. Question 3

    What message does this signal send: three short blasts on a whistle repeated?

    • A. Playtime is over; go back to class.
    • B. The car is about to turn left.
    • C. There may be a fire: get out.
    • D. I need help.
  4. Question 4

    Does this signal use light, sound or both: a car's flashing indicator?

    • A. light
    • B. sound
    • C. both light and sound
  5. Question 5

    Why does a pedestrian crossing beep as well as show a green light?

    • A. to wake up birds
    • B. because the light is broken
    • C. so people who cannot see well know when to cross
    • D. to make the cars go faster
  6. Question 6

    Does this signal use light, sound or both: a smoke alarm beeping?

    • A. light
    • B. sound
    • C. both light and sound
  7. Question 7

    Your friend is across a noisy playground. Which signal will they notice best?

    • A. humming softly
    • B. tapping a pencil quietly
    • C. whispering her name
    • D. waving a brightly coloured flag
  8. Question 8

    Does this signal use light, sound or both: a fire engine on its way to a fire?

    • A. light
    • B. sound
    • C. both light and sound

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Answer key: Send messages with light and sound

  1. 1. C. both light and sound

  2. 2. D. Danger: rocks or land are near here.

  3. 3. D. I need help.

  4. 4. A. light

  5. 5. C. so people who cannot see well know when to cross

  6. 6. B. sound

  7. 7. D. waving a brightly coloured flag

  8. 8. C. both light and sound