🧾 Lesson 1: What Is a Wave? (Liveworksheets – Plain Text)

Title: What Is a Wave?
NC Standard: 6.P.1 – Understand how energy moves in waves.
WIDA Level: Developing (Level 3)

🔍 Reading

A wave is a way that energy moves from one place to another.
When you drop a rock in water, you see ripples move out.
The water itself does not move far, but the energy does.
Waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.
Some waves, like sound, need a medium to travel through.
Other waves, like light, can move through empty space.
Waves can be big or small, fast or slow, but they all carry energy.

[Insert image: water ripples / ocean wave diagram]

💬 Word Bank

wave · energy · medium · solid · liquid · gas · sound · light · travel · move

✏️ Activity 1 – Gap Fill

Fill in the blanks using words from the word bank.

1️⃣ A wave carries {{energy}} from one place to another.
2️⃣ Some waves, like {{sound}}, need a {{medium}} to travel through.
3️⃣ Light waves can move through {{empty space}}.
4️⃣ Waves can travel through {{solids}}, {{liquids}}, and {{gases}}.

🔄 Activity 2 – Match the Definition

Match the word to its meaning.

1️⃣ wave → [drop: moves energy]
2️⃣ energy → [drop: the ability to do work or move things]
3️⃣ sound → [drop: needs air to travel]
4️⃣ light → [drop: can travel through space]

[drag: moves energy] [drag: the ability to do work or move things] [drag: needs air to travel] [drag: can travel through space]

🧠 Activity 3 – Choose the Correct Answer

Select the best answer.

1️⃣ A wave moves ______.
(a) matter
(b) {{energy}}
(c) air

2️⃣ Which wave can move through space?
(a) sound
(b) {{light}}
(c) water

🗣️ Activity 4 – Speaking/Writing Prompt

Explain: “How do you know a wave carries energy?”
Use the frames:

• “I know because…”
• “For example…”

(Student records or writes answer.)

🧩 Grammar Focus – Can / Can’t

Complete the sentences.
1️⃣ Sound waves {{can’t}} travel through space.
2️⃣ Light waves {{can}} move through space.
3️⃣ Waves {{can}} carry energy but not matter.

🧾 Answer Key (Teacher Use)

• Activity 1: energy / sound / medium / empty space / solids, liquids, gases
• Activity 2: wave → moves energy; energy → ability to do work; sound → needs air; light → can travel through space
• Activity 3: (1) energy (2) light
• Grammar Focus: can’t / can / can

 

🧾 Lesson 2: Mechanical Waves – Transverse and Longitudinal

NC Standard: 6.P.1 – Understand the properties of waves and how they transfer energy.
WIDA Level: Developing (Level 3)

🔍 Reading

Mechanical waves need a medium—something like air, water, or solid—to travel through.
There are two main types of mechanical waves: transverse and longitudinal.

In a transverse wave, the particles move up and down, but the wave energy moves side to side.
An example is a wave on a rope.

In a longitudinal wave, the particles move back and forth in the same direction as the energy.
A good example is a sound wave moving through air.

Both kinds of waves show how energy moves without moving matter very far.

[Insert image: diagram showing transverse vs. longitudinal waves]

💬 Word Bank

wave · energy · transverse · longitudinal · particles · medium · air · rope · back and forth · up and down

✏️ Activity 1 – Gap Fill

Fill in the blanks using the word bank.

1️⃣ Mechanical waves need a {{medium}} to travel through.
2️⃣ In a transverse wave, particles move {{up and down}}.
3️⃣ In a longitudinal wave, particles move {{back and forth}}.
4️⃣ Sound is an example of a {{longitudinal}} wave.
5️⃣ A wave on a rope is a {{transverse}} wave.

🔄 Activity 2 – Match the Description

Match the word to its description.

1️⃣ transverse → [drop: moves up and down]
2️⃣ longitudinal → [drop: moves back and forth]
3️⃣ mechanical → [drop: needs a medium]

[drag: moves up and down] [drag: moves back and forth] [drag: needs a medium]

🧠 Activity 3 – Choose the Correct Answer

1️⃣ A sound wave moves through air by particles moving:
(a) up and down
(b) {{back and forth}}
(c) around in circles

2️⃣ Which wave can you make with a rope?
(a) {{transverse}}
(b) longitudinal
(c) electromagnetic

3️⃣ What do all mechanical waves need?
(a) space
(b) {{a medium}}
(c) light

📊 Activity 4 – Label the Diagram

[Insert image: two simple labeled wave diagrams — transverse with crest/trough, longitudinal with compression/rarefaction.]

Label the parts using drag/drop:
[drag: crest] [drag: trough] [drag: compression] [drag: rarefaction]

1️⃣ Top wave: ______ and ______
2️⃣ Bottom wave: ______ and ______

🗣️ Activity 5 – Speaking/Writing Prompt

Explain how a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave are different.
Use sentence frames:

• “In a transverse wave, the particles…”
• “In a longitudinal wave, the particles…”

(Student records or writes answer.)

🧩 Grammar Focus – Present Simple Verbs

Choose the correct form of the verb.

1️⃣ Sound waves {{move}} through air.
2️⃣ Energy {{travels}} in a wave.
3️⃣ The particles {{vibrate}} but do not move far.

🧾 Answer Key (Teacher Use)

Activity 1: medium / up and down / back and forth / longitudinal / transverse
Activity 2: transverse → moves up and down; longitudinal → moves back and forth; mechanical → needs a medium
Activity 3: (1) back and forth (2) transverse (3) a medium
Activity 4: crest, trough, compression, rarefaction
Grammar Focus: move / travels / vibrate

 

🧾 Lesson 3: Electromagnetic Waves

NC Standard: 6.P.1 — Understand the properties of waves and how they transfer energy.
WIDA Level: Developing

🔍 Reading

Electromagnetic waves are different from mechanical waves because they do not need a medium to travel.
This means they can move through empty space.

Light, radio, microwaves, and X-rays are all examples of electromagnetic waves.
These waves are made when electric and magnetic fields move together.

Light from the Sun travels through space to Earth.
It brings energy to our planet, even though there is no air between us and the Sun!

Electromagnetic waves can move very fast — the speed of light is the fastest thing we know.

[Insert image: diagram showing radio → microwave → infrared → visible → ultraviolet → X-ray → gamma]

💬 Word Bank

space · medium · electromagnetic · light · energy · magnetic · electric · radio · X-rays · speed of light

✏️ Activity 1 – Gap Fill

Fill in the blanks using words from the word bank.

1️⃣ Electromagnetic waves do not need a {{medium}}.
2️⃣ They can travel through {{space}}.
3️⃣ Light and {{radio}} waves are examples of electromagnetic waves.
4️⃣ These waves are made by {{electric}} and {{magnetic}} fields.
5️⃣ The {{speed of light}} is very fast.

🔄 Activity 2 – Match the Wave Type

Match each example to the correct category.

1️⃣ radio wave → [drop: communication]
2️⃣ microwave → [drop: cooking food]
3️⃣ X-ray → [drop: seeing bones]
4️⃣ visible light → [drop: seeing colors]

[drag: communication] [drag: cooking food] [drag: seeing bones] [drag: seeing colors]

🧠 Activity 3 – Choose the Correct Answer

1️⃣ Which wave does not need a medium?
(a) sound
(b) {{light}}
(c) ocean

2️⃣ What two fields make electromagnetic waves?
(a) air and water
(b) sound and heat
(c) {{electric and magnetic}}

3️⃣ Where does sunlight travel through to reach Earth?
(a) {{space}}
(b) water
(c) air

📊 Activity 4 – Label the Spectrum

[Insert image: simplified electromagnetic spectrum with 7 labeled sections.]

Label the parts from longest to shortest wavelength:
[drag: radio] [drag: microwave] [drag: infrared] [drag: visible] [drag: ultraviolet] [drag: X-ray] [drag: gamma]

🧩 Activity 5 – Writing Task

Use these frames to write 3 sentences about electromagnetic waves:

• “Electromagnetic waves travel through ______.”
• “They can be used for ______.”
• “Light from the Sun is an example of ______.”

(Students write answers.)

🗣️ Speaking Practice

Discuss with a partner:
“How are electromagnetic waves different from mechanical waves?”
Use the words: medium, space, light, sound.

🔤 Grammar Focus – Comparative Adjectives

Complete the sentences.

1️⃣ Light waves move {{faster}} than sound waves.
2️⃣ Radio waves have {{longer}} wavelengths than X-rays.
3️⃣ X-rays are {{stronger}} than visible light.

🧾 Answer Key (Teacher Use)

Activity 1: medium / space / radio / electric / magnetic / speed of light
Activity 2: radio → communication; microwave → cooking food; X-ray → seeing bones; visible light → seeing colors
Activity 3: (1) light (2) electric and magnetic (3) space
Activity 4: radio / microwave / infrared / visible / ultraviolet / X-ray / gamma
Grammar Focus: faster / longer / stronger

 

🌊 Lesson 4: Properties of Waves

NC Standard: 6.P.1 — Understand the properties of waves and how they transfer energy.
WIDA Level: Developing

🔍 Reading

Waves have different properties that describe how they move and carry energy.
Three important wave properties are amplitude, wavelength, and frequency.

• Amplitude is how tall a wave is. It shows how much energy the wave has.
  A bigger amplitude means a stronger wave.
• Wavelength is the distance between one wave top (crest) and the next.
  Long wavelengths have lower energy.
• Frequency is how many waves pass a point in one second.
  Higher frequency means more energy.

When you listen to music, low sounds have long wavelengths, and high sounds have short ones.

[Insert image: labeled diagram of a wave with amplitude, wavelength, and crest/trough marked.]

💬 Word Bank

amplitude · wavelength · frequency · crest · energy · long · short · tall · low · high

✏️ Activity 1 – Gap Fill

Fill in the blanks using the words from the box.

1️⃣ The height of a wave is called its {{amplitude}}.
2️⃣ The distance between two crests is the {{wavelength}}.
3️⃣ {{Frequency}} means how many waves pass in one second.
4️⃣ A wave with more {{energy}} has a taller amplitude.
5️⃣ Long wavelengths have {{low}} energy, and short ones have {{high}} energy.

🔄 Activity 2 – Match the Property

Match the description to the correct word.

1️⃣ How tall a wave is → [drop: amplitude]
2️⃣ The space between crests → [drop: wavelength]
3️⃣ Number of waves per second → [drop: frequency]

[drag: amplitude] [drag: wavelength] [drag: frequency]

🧠 Activity 3 – Choose the Correct Answer

1️⃣ What happens when amplitude increases?
(a) {{The wave has more energy}}
(b) The wave slows down
(c) The wavelength gets longer

2️⃣ Which wave carries more energy?
(a) {{Short wavelength}}
(b) Long wavelength

3️⃣ What does “frequency” mean?
(a) How tall the wave is
(b) {{How many waves pass in one second}}
(c) How far waves travel

🎨 Activity 4 – Label the Diagram

[Insert image: a simple sine wave labeled “A” for amplitude, “B” for wavelength, “C” for crest.]

Label each part:
A → [drop: amplitude]
B → [drop: wavelength]
C → [drop: crest]

[drag: amplitude] [drag: wavelength] [drag: crest]

✍️ Activity 5 – Writing Practice

Use these sentence starters to describe waves:

• “A wave with a big amplitude has ______ energy.”
• “When the frequency is high, the wavelength is ______.”
• “Waves with low energy have ______ amplitude.”

(Students complete sentences.)

🗣️ Speaking Practice

Work in pairs. Describe two waves on the board using comparative adjectives:
Example: “Wave A is taller than Wave B.” “Wave B has a longer wavelength.”

🔤 Grammar Focus – Comparatives

1️⃣ Wave A is {{taller}} than Wave B.
2️⃣ Wave B has a {{longer}} wavelength.
3️⃣ High-frequency waves are {{faster}} than low-frequency waves.

🧾 Answer Key (Teacher Use)

Activity 1: amplitude / wavelength / frequency / energy / low / high
Activity 2: amplitude / wavelength / frequency
Activity 3: (1) The wave has more energy (2) Short wavelength (3) How many waves pass in one second
Activity 4: A = amplitude / B = wavelength / C = crest
Grammar Focus: taller / longer / faster

 

🎵 Lesson 5: Sound Waves

NC Standard: 6.P.1 — Understand the properties of waves and how they transfer energy.
WIDA Level: Developing

🔍 Reading

Sound waves are a type of mechanical wave.
They need a medium (such as air, water, or solid) to travel through.

When something vibrates, it makes nearby air particles move back and forth.
These vibrations create waves that carry sound energy to your ear.

Sound moves fastest through solids, slower through liquids, and slowest through gases.
This is because particles in solids are close together.

The amplitude of a sound wave controls how loud it is.
The frequency controls the pitch — high or low sounds.

[Insert image: diagram showing sound wave compressions and rarefactions moving through air particles]

💬 Word Bank

vibrate · medium · air · solid · liquid · gas · amplitude · frequency · loud · pitch

✏️ Activity 1 – Gap Fill

Fill in the blanks using the words from the box.

1️⃣ Sound waves need a {{medium}} to travel.
2️⃣ Sound moves fastest through a {{solid}}.
3️⃣ Vibrations make {{air}} particles move.
4️⃣ The {{amplitude}} of a wave controls how loud it is.
5️⃣ The {{frequency}} controls the pitch of the sound.

🔄 Activity 2 – Match the Concept

Match the term to its meaning.

1️⃣ amplitude → [drop: loudness]
2️⃣ frequency → [drop: pitch]
3️⃣ solid → [drop: fastest sound travel]
4️⃣ gas → [drop: slowest sound travel]

[drag: loudness] [drag: pitch] [drag: fastest sound travel] [drag: slowest sound travel]

🧠 Activity 3 – Choose the Correct Answer

1️⃣ Which medium does sound travel fastest through?
(a) water
(b) {{metal}}
(c) air

2️⃣ What happens when a sound has high amplitude?
(a) {{It is louder}}
(b) It is softer
(c) It is higher pitch

3️⃣ Why can’t sound travel in space?
(a) There is no {{medium}}
(b) There is too much gas
(c) It moves too slowly

🎧 Activity 4 – Label the Diagram

[Insert image: sound wave with labeled compression and rarefaction zones.]

Label each part:
A → [drop: compression]
B → [drop: rarefaction]

[drag: compression] [drag: rarefaction]

✍️ Activity 5 – Writing Practice

Use these sentence frames to describe sound waves:

• “Sound waves move through ______.”
• “When amplitude increases, sound becomes ______.”
• “A high-frequency sound has a ______ pitch.”

(Students complete the sentences.)

🗣️ Speaking Practice

Pair activity:
Each student describes one sound (e.g., a drum, a whistle, a bell).
Partner answers: “That sound has a high/low pitch and is loud/soft.”

🔤 Grammar Focus – Cause and Effect

Complete the sentences with because or so:

1️⃣ Sound moves fastest in solids {{because}} particles are close together.
2️⃣ There is no air in space, {{so}} we cannot hear sound there.
3️⃣ The sound was loud {{because}} the amplitude was big.

🧾 Answer Key (Teacher Use)

Activity 1: medium / solid / air / amplitude / frequency
Activity 2: amplitude → loudness; frequency → pitch; solid → fastest sound travel; gas → slowest sound travel
Activity 3: (1) metal (2) It is louder (3) There is no medium
Activity 4: A = compression / B = rarefaction
Grammar Focus: because / so / because

 

💡 Lesson 6: Light Waves

NC Standard: 6.P.1 — Understand the properties of waves and how they transfer energy.
WIDA Level: Developing

🔍 Reading

Light waves are a type of electromagnetic wave.
They can travel through space, so we can see light from the Sun and stars.

Light travels in straight lines until it hits an object.
When light hits a surface, it can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed.

• Reflection happens when light bounces off a surface. Mirrors reflect light.
• Refraction happens when light bends as it moves through something new, like water or glass.
• Absorption happens when light is taken in by a material, like black clothes in the sun.

Different materials affect how light behaves. Smooth, shiny surfaces reflect most light; rough or dark ones absorb more.

[Insert image: diagram showing reflection, refraction, and absorption examples]

💬 Word Bank

reflection · refraction · absorption · bounce · bend · absorb · light · glass · mirror · surface

✏️ Activity 1 – Gap Fill

Fill in the blanks using the words from the box.

1️⃣ When light hits a mirror, it {{bounces}} back.
2️⃣ This is called {{reflection}}.
3️⃣ When light goes through water, it {{bends}} — this is {{refraction}}.
4️⃣ Dark clothes {{absorb}} light energy.
5️⃣ Light travels in straight lines until it hits a {{surface}}.

🔄 Activity 2 – Match the Term

Match the word to its meaning.

1️⃣ reflection → [drop: light bounces]
2️⃣ refraction → [drop: light bends]
3️⃣ absorption → [drop: light is taken in]

[drag: light bounces] [drag: light bends] [drag: light is taken in]

🧠 Activity 3 – Choose the Correct Answer

1️⃣ What happens when light hits a mirror?
(a) It bends
(b) {{It reflects}}
(c) It disappears

2️⃣ Which object shows refraction?
(a) {{A straw in a glass of water looks bent}}
(b) A mirror on the wall
(c) A black t-shirt in the sun

3️⃣ What happens when light is absorbed?
(a) {{It turns into heat}}
(b) It bounces
(c) It shines brighter

🎨 Activity 4 – Label the Diagram

[Insert image: three labeled boxes showing reflection, refraction, absorption.]

Label each box:
A → [drop: reflection]
B → [drop: refraction]
C → [drop: absorption]

[drag: reflection] [drag: refraction] [drag: absorption]

✍️ Activity 5 – Writing Practice

Complete the sentences:

• “Light reflects off ______.”
• “Light bends when it moves through ______.”
• “Dark colors absorb ______.”

(Students write answers.)

🗣️ Speaking Practice

Pair discussion:
Look around the classroom. Name one example of reflection, refraction, and absorption.
Example: “The window shows refraction.” “The whiteboard shows reflection.”

🔤 Grammar Focus – Passive Voice (Simple Present)

Complete the sentences using is / are + past participle.

1️⃣ Light {{is reflected}} by mirrors.
2️⃣ Water {{is used}} to show refraction.
3️⃣ Black shirts {{are heated}} by sunlight.

🧾 Answer Key (Teacher Use)

Activity 1: bounces / reflection / bends / refraction / absorb / surface
Activity 2: reflection → light bounces; refraction → light bends; absorption → light is taken in
Activity 3: (1) It reflects (2) A straw in a glass of water looks bent (3) It turns into heat
Activity 4: A = reflection / B = refraction / C = absorption
Grammar Focus: is reflected / is used / are heated