What Is a Wave? Lesson 5 - New Direction

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by nayy☆

Fifth lesson of the “What Is a Wave?” unit guiding Grade 9–10 students through demonstrations and reasoning about how waves behave in different types of matter. The lesson uses essential questions comparing waves and particles, observes light traveling through matter, and includes Engage–Explore–Explain–Extend–Evaluate phases. Standards address relationships among frequency, wavelength, and wave speed, and evaluation of electromagnetic radiation effects, culminating in a Concept Card Map to summarize unit understanding.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Engage

Explore

Explain

Extend

Evaluate

Page 1 of 11 What Is a Wave? Lesson 5 New Direction Laura Halstied, Lindsey Link, Michael Laprarie, Mary Braggs, Sherry Franklin Published by K20 Center This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 License Grade Level 9th – 10th Grade Subject Social Studies Course Physical Science Time Frame Duration 90 minutes 2 class periods Essential Question What are waves? How do waves behave differently from particles? Summary In this fifth and final lesson of the "What Is a Wave?" unit, students will observe two demonstrations of waves interacting with different types of matter and form conclusions to understand how light travels through matter. Students will complete a Concept Card Map activity to demonstrate their understanding of the unit's content and concepts. Snapshot Engage Students generate key concepts based on the previous lessons. Explore Students make observations and develop claims about light traveling through matter. Explain Students observe a laser demonstration and form conclusions about light frequency. Extend Students brainstorm other forms of radiation. Evaluate Students create a Concept Card Map to summarize their understanding of the unit. [https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/1697?rev=24658](https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/1697?rev=24658) Page 2 of 11 Standards Oklahoma Academic Standards (Physical Science) PS. PS4.1 : Use mathematical representations to explain both qualitative and quantitative relationships among frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media. PS. PS4.4 : Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter. PS. PS4.4. 1: When light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation is absorbed in matter, it is generally converted into thermal energy (heat) . PS. PS4.4. 2: Shorter wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells. PS. PS4.4. 3: Photoelectric materials emit electrons when they absorb light of high enough frequency. Attachments CERTIfy Your Thinking Activity—New Direction-Spanish.docx CERTIfy Your Thinking Activity—New Direction-Spanish. pdf CERTIfy Your Thinking Activity—New Direction.docx CERTIfy Your Thinking Activity—New Direction. pdf Concept Card Packet Waves—New Direction-Spanish.docx Concept Card Packet Waves—New Direction-Spanish. pdf Concept Card Packet Waves—New Direction.docx Concept Card Packet Waves—New Direction. pdf Lesson Slides—New Direction. pptx Wave Vocabulary Packet—New Direction-Spanish.docx Wave Vocabulary Packet—New Direction-Spanish. pdf Wave Vocabulary Packet—New Direction.docx Wave Vocabulary Packet—New Direction. pdf Wave Vocabulary Teacher Guide—New Direction.docx Wave Vocabulary Teacher Guide—New Direction. pdf Materials Lesson Slides (attached) Concept Card Packet (attached; one per group of 3-4 students) C. E. R.T. I.fy Your Thinking Activity (attached; one per student) Wave Unit Vocabulary Packet (attached; one per student) Wave Unit Vocabulary Teacher’s Guide (attached) Yellow highlighter Pliers Jar with lid Two liter clear plastic bottle Drinking glass Pencil Water 650nm red laser pointer 405nm blue/violet laser pointer Poster board or large paper Glue sticks [https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/1697?rev=24658](https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/1697?rev=24658) Page 3 of 11 15 minutes Engage Use the attached Lesson Slides to guide the lesson. Show slides 3 and 4. Review the essential questions and lesson objectives with students. Place students into groups of three or four. Show slide 5. Using the Strike Out strategy: 1. Ask students to generate a list of key ideas or themes from the past two lessons in this unit. 2. When

FAQs

What essential question does the lesson focus on?

The lesson asks what waves are and how waves behave differently from particles.

How do students explore the behavior of light in matter?

Students perform and observe demonstrations, then develop claims based on what they see about light traveling through matter.

What is the final activity used to evaluate understanding?

Students create a Concept Card Map to summarize their understanding of the unit’s concepts.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by nayy☆