Waves Lesson Plans: scroll through the unit, click on linked lessons
Lesson 1: Exploratory introduction to waves
Activity 1: lab stations with ropes/strings, slinkies, water in turkey baking pans, a radio, and a speaker
Activity 2: Notes: types of waves & amplitude
Activity 3: Classification of the types of waves seen in the lab
Homework:
Lesson 2: Wave properties
Activity 1: speed
Activity 2: frequency
Activity 3: wavelength
Homework: wave properties worksheet
Lesson 3: Sound waves
Activity 1: discover: build telephones with string and cups
Activity 2: pitch = frequency: play with tuning forks
Activity 3:
Homework: sound wave problems
Lesson 4: Homemade Speakers
Activity 1: think time: what do you need to make a speaker
Activity 2: build speakers out of 16 oz cups, lids, straws, wire, and magnets
Activity 3: test speakers with an audio receiver
Homework: Explanation and diagram of how speakers work.
Lesson 5: Doppler Effect
Activity 1: Quiz
Activity 2:
Question: would your speaker sound differently if it was moving?
Discover the Answer: draw wave diagrams for a moving sound source.
Activity 3: java applet of a moving car and a movie of an actual moving car
Homework: Doppler problem
Lesson 6: Doppler Shift 2 (Sonic Booms)
Activity 1: java applet: sonic booms
Activity 2: think, pair, share: sonic boomsŕone time event or continuous?
Activity 3: movie of a plane breaking the sound barrier
Homework: Doppler problem
Lesson 8: The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Activity 1: List as many kinds of waves as you can
Activity 2: Notes: all light waves move at the same speed, ROYGBIV …
Activity 3: spectroscopes look at light or build a spectrum on the wall
Homework: are cell phones dangerous
Lesson 9: Assessment
Activity 1: Last minute questions
Activity 2: Test
Activity 3: Current science reading
Homework: reaction to a current science reading