Waves Teacher Resources

Students can explain the causes of a tsunami and its effects.  In this tsunami instructional activity, students create a tsunami generator.  Students create waves with a metal plate. students create houses and find which...

Did you know black holes aren't black? Learn more about space with an episode from a larger series exploring physics. We know more about black holes now than ever before in history, yet we aren't sure we really know anything at all.

Quantum physics relies on Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, yet many don't fully understand it. A brief video installment from a larger playlist explores the principle with a laser light and a slit for it to pass through. It describes...

Fourth graders pour three cups of sand on the top of a plastic table near the edge. They tap the table lightly with the rubber mallet. When they tap the table lightly they see the sand ump into the air.

Students discover ways to make sounds louder to their ears.

Pupils discover what creates a tsunami  In this earth science lesson, student research using the Internet how tsunami's develop. Students read accounts of first responders to the Sri Lanka tsunami.

In this English worksheet, students read "Sunbed Cancer Risk for Teens," and then respond to 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.

Twelfth graders discuss sine curves and enter equations into their graphing calculator then compare different graphs created on their calculators. They identify the period, amplitude and phase shift given the graph or the equation of a...

Students explore the concept of the cost of raising a child. In this cost of raising a child lesson, students read an article about the expenses associated with teenagers. Students discuss ways in which parents maneuver finances for...

Students visit a PBS Website about tsunamis to consider their causes, effects and steps countries have taken to try to defend against them. They answer questions and create a brochure explaining tsunami facts and procedures to survive a...

Students see that by manipulating sound we can arrange a series of notes referred to as a musical scale. They explain the relationship between pitches and notes. They compare the sounds of different-sized bottles.

Students create a delightful-sounding ensemble. They explore the subjective distinctions between noise and music. They use jars, buckets, boxes, strings, rackets, frames, string, rubber bands and bottles to make their own jamboree.

Students discover that energy is needed to produce sound. They see that identifying where the energy comes from enables us to control the type of sound produced. They play the kazoo and manipulate the sound in a variety of ways.

Second graders investigate the production of sound through experimentation. Working in pairs, 2nd graders receive supplies to create a sound machine. Once they create their machine and record the differences in the sounds produced.

Students examine the components that are used to make a primitive AM radio. In circuit and radio construction students often are asked to assemble parts are or what function they perform. They examine each main component on an individual...

Sixth graders watch a demonstration on how talking cans produce sounds. In groups, they compare and contrast the sounds from different sized cans. They participate in a variety of activities to discover how sounds are made and how...

In this hearing worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer by filling in the steps between matter vibrating and hearing the sound.

Students explain the processes of plate tectonics and volcanism that resulted in the formation of the Hawaiian Islands. They describe, compare, and contrast S waves and P waves. They explain how

Students investigate earthquakes by examining chart data.   In this disasters instructional activity, students identify the waves that are recorded when an earthquake arises by reading sample graphs in class.  Students...

Students determine the effects of gentle and strong waves on beach erosion. They use a stream table to simulate a beach and sketch the beach profile after simulated waves of different sizes.

Students study hearing and are able to differentiate between different sound waves.  In this sound wave lesson students develop a cause and effect model that shows the parts of the ear. 

Students explore how vibrations create sound by strumming a rubber band. They feel the vibration of their own vocal chords. Then they explore the motion of sound waves and echoes. They rely on their own hearing to locate others in their...

High schoolers explain the process of wave formation and analyze the relationship between the ocean and the atmosphere.  In this oceans lesson students use buoys to cast real time sea state conditions. 

Students identify trigonometric functions. In this trigonometry lesson plan, students add and subtract trigonometric functions. They add sine and cosine waves and relate it to the real world.