NSTA - National Science Teaching Association

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4th Grade

Waves: Waves and Information

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Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations

Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and that waves can cause objects to move. 4-PS4-1

Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

Clarification Statement: Examples of models could include diagrams, analogies, and physical models using wire to illustrate wavelength and amplitude of waves.

Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include interference effects, electromagnetic waves, non-periodic waves, or quantitative models of amplitude and wavelength.

Generate and compare multiple solutions that use patterns to transfer information. 4-PS4-3

Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

Clarification Statement: Examples of solutions could include drums sending coded information through sound waves, using a grid of 1’s and 0’s representing black and white to send information about a picture, and using Morse code to send text.

Assessment Boundary: none

Science and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

Modeling in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to building and revising simple models and using models to represent events and design solutions.

Develop a model using an analogy, example, or abstract representation to describe a scientific principle. (4-PS4-1)

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Constructing explanations and designing solutions in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to the use of evidence in constructing explanations that specify variables that describe and predict phenomena and in designing multiple solutions to design problems.

Generate and compare multiple solutions to a problem based on how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the design solution. (4-PS4-3)

Connections to Nature of Science

Science Knowledge Is Based on Empirical Evidence

Science findings are based on recognizing patterns. (4-PS4-1)

Disciplinary Core Ideas

PS4.A: Wave Properties

Waves, which are regular patterns of motion, can be made in water by disturbing the surface. When waves move across the surface of deep water, the water goes up and down in place; there is no net motion in the direction of the wave except when the water meets a beach. (4-PS4-1)

Waves of the same type can differ in amplitude (height of the wave) and wavelength (spacing between wave peaks). (4-PS4-1)

PS4.C: Information Technologies and Instrumentation

Digitized information can be transmitted over long distances without significant degradation. High-tech devices, such as computers or cell phones, can receive and decode information—convert it from digitized form to voice—and vice versa. (4-PS4-3)

ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution

Different solutions need to be tested in order to determine which of them best solves the problem, given the criteria and the constraints. (secondary to 4-PS-3)

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns

Connections to Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science

Interdependence of Science, Engineering, and Technology

Knowledge of relevant scientific concepts and research findings is important in engineering. (4-PS4-3)

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy

RI.4.1 - Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. (4-PS4-3)
RI.4.9 - Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably. (4-PS4-3)
SL.4.5 - Add audio recordings and visual displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes. (4-PS4-1)

Mathematics

4.G.A.1 - Draw points, lines, line segments, rays, angles (right, acute, obtuse), and perpendicular and parallel lines. Identify these in two-dimensional figures. (4-PS4-1)
MP.4 - Model with mathematics. (4-PS4-1)