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Waves Unit
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Waves Unit

Buy the full year curriculum and save!

$45.00

This unit is designed to be everything you need to teach a waves unit in a high school physical science or IPC (integrated physics and chemistry) course. Content covered includes: the nature and properties of waves, behaviors of waves, and the electromagnetic spectrum.

 

This product includes PowerPoint notes (with corresponding lecture videos), a packet of student handouts for all activities, stations, practice, and summative assessments including 1 quiz and 1 unit test (both provided in CP and Honors versions.) The teacher implementation notes provide additional suggestions for differentiating the unit for CP (college prep, or on-grade level) classes and Honors (advanced) classes. The student packet also comes in a paperless digital version that can be used in Google Drive™ and/or Microsoft OneDrive™. This is perfect for the teacher who is in a 1:1 classroom, for someone who is hoping to integrate more educational technology to move towards becoming a paperless classroom, or if you are currently teaching virtually or in a hybrid setting. Because it is all-inclusive, it is especially useful for new teachers, maternity leave, and flipped classrooms!

 

**Note: This is the FIFTH unit in my full year physical science curriculum. You can buy this unit for 20% off if you purchase as a part of my full year bundle. Also, this unit was recently revamped 1/14/26!! I am currently working through a major revamp of all of the physical science units. The preview linked above and the description below represent the newly rewritten unit. Feel free to email me and I’ll send you the list of all of the changes made!

 

What content is in this unit?

  • Nature of mechanical and electromagnetic waves
  • Parts of transverse and longitudinal waves
  • Properties of waves including: amplitude, frequency, wavelength, period, and speed
  • Properties specific to sound waves, such as: pitch and loudness
  • Calculations of wave speed, frequency, wavelength, and period
  • Behaviors including: reflection, refraction, diffraction, absorption, interference, and resonance
  • Electromagnetic spectrum
  • Digital transmission
  • Doppler effect, seeing color, and lenses (honors only)

 

To read more about my scope and sequence for all of the units in my physical science course, as well as to access my free pacing guide for the class, check out this blog post here.

 

What standards are covered?

My physical science curriculum is entirely aligned to *NGSS middle school physical science standards, and is perfect for an 8th grade physical science class or a 9th-10th grade physical science course that preps students for chemistry or physics (I have used this curriculum for all 3 grades successfully!)  Each unit incorporates DCIs, crosscutting concepts, and the science and engineering practices.  The following DCIs are covered in this unit: 
  • MS-PS4-1: Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave.
  • MS-PS4-2: Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
  • MS-PS4-3: Integrate qualitative scientific and technical information to support the claim that digitized signals are a more reliable way to encode and transmit information than analog signals.
  • HS-PS4-1: Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media.
  • HS-PS4-2: Evaluate questions about advantages of using digital transmission and storage of information.
  • HS-PS4-3: Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning behind the idea that electromagnetic radiation can be described either by a wave model or a particle model, and that for some situations one model is more useful than the other.
  • HS-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.
  • HS-PS4-5: Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.
 
Note: If you aren’t sure how your state standards compare to the NGSS, shoot me an email at itsnotrocketsciencestore@gmail.com with a PDF or link to your state standards for physical science and I will be happy to review them for you prior to you making a purchase!

 

What prior knowledge is necessary for students to have before using this unit?

This is the fifth unit (and final physics-based unit!) I would teach in my physical science class, so I would expect students to have prior knowledge from my first Science Foundations unit (mainly lab skills, measurement, graphing, unit conversions, experimental design and technological design), my second Motion and Force unit (describing motion, calculation velocity, acceleration, force, and momentum, and Newton’s laws), my third Energy unit (nature of energy, kinetic and potential energy, energy conservation, thermal energy, work and power), and my fourth Electricity and Magnetism unit (electric charge, current, circuits and magnets).

 

Based on my teaching experience, I also expect students to have either taken Algebra 1 prior to taking this course, or be concurrently taking it. That is the math skill expectation I have set as I wrote these units. If that is NOT the case for your students, keep that in mind as you move forward with this unit, as you may need to provide further support for them to be successful with the content.

 

What is included?

I strongly encourage you to download the preview for this product.  It is 18 pages and will give you the best idea of what all is included.  In short: 
  • 16 pages of teacher implementation notes + editable unit plans for 14 days of lesson plans (both 50-minute and 90-minute block pacing)
  • A 27-page PDF packet for CP/on grade level students, and a 29-page PDF packet for Honors/advanced with all of the student handouts for the entire unit that includes:
    • Unit outline with objectives and vocabulary terms for each concept covered for students to use to make their own study guides from
    • Notes outlines for each of the four main concepts in Cornell Note format – including filled in and fill in the blank versions of notes!
    • Practice: Wave Parts and Properties
    • Discovery Stations: Sound
    • Practice: Understanding Sound Waves
    • Real World Waves: Rogue Waves and Earthquakes
    • Lab Station Activity: Exploring the Behaviors of Waves
    • Practice: Wave Behaviors
    • Inquiry Activity: CER Analysis
    • Practice: EMS
    • Practice: EMS Application (honors only)
    • Research Activity: Everyday Electromagnetic Waves
  • Access to ALL of the materials in the student packet in a paperless digital format that can be used in Google Drive™ and/or Microsoft OneDrive™
  • 4 fully animated PowerPoints of notes (over 60 slides)
  • Links to YouTube video lectures for each of the PowerPoint notes – perfect for absent students or flipped classrooms!
  • 1 quiz on the nature, properties, and behaviors of waves + editable version
  • End of unit test with a combination of multiple choice, matching, and open response questions, a 2-page answer sheet for students, versions A and B with varied question order to reduce cheating, and an editable version so you can customize for your students’ needs
    • Both an Honors version and a CP/College Prep/on-grade level version included for all quizzes and tests!
  • Detailed answer keys for ALL of the student assessments including the packet, quizzes, and tests

 

What types of files are included?

When you download this product you will receive a zip file with 5 folders of files.  Most of the documents in this product are secured PDFs, meaning you can print them but not edit or copy/paste the text. The paperless digital student packets will be accessed via a Google Drive™ link in a PDF file that students can type into but not change the essential content of. Editable versions (Word docs) are only included for the unit plans, quizzes, tests and some aspects of the activities for you to customize for your classroom. The PowerPoint lecture notes also have editable text.  This is to protect the copyright and intellectual property of my own work, plus the work of many dedicated clip artists and photographers whose graphics I purchased for commercial use to be included in this product. If you have questions about this, please don’t hesitate to email me with them prior to purchasing!

 

What materials are needed in addition to the resources provided?

A list of additional materials is compiled on p.7-8 of the preview document.  Click here to open it.  I wrote every unit in this curriculum for a science teacher with minimal materials and budget, so the majority of the supplies needed can be purchased on Amazon or at Walmart!

 

How many class periods will it take to teach this unit in its entirety?

This unit covers 14 50-minute class periods or 7 90-minute block class periods. However, if you don’t have that much time available you can cut out some of the activities, have students do one of the projects at home, or use the YouTube lecture videos that come with the unit to implement a flipped classroom style.

 

How is this resource distance learning compatible?

This resource already comes with all of the student handouts in a packet format that can be used on paper (PDF to print) or digitally in a paperless version for Google Drive™ and/or Microsoft OneDrive™. All of the PowerPoint notes also come with a lecture video to help your students learn from afar.  You can see all of my lecture videos on my YouTube channel here, and you can check out a free sample of a paperless digital packet so you can see what the formatting and usability is like prior to purchasing.  Please don’t hesitate to email me at itsnotrocketsciencestore@gmail.com if you have questions so we can figure out if this is a good fit for you and your students.
 

 

*NOTE* I did not specifically write this physical science curriculum for distance learning or homeschool physical science settings, but this entire curriculum can still be used in a modified format, and all will be fully usable when we are one day back in our classrooms! I include a document with tips for using the resources in a virtual teaching and/or homeschool setting to help you. If you have questions about which resources may or may not work from home, shoot me an email and we can discuss!

 

What is so great about the digital student packets that are included?

  • You can go PAPERLESS in your classroom if you want – no more dreaded mornings at the copy machine!
  • You still get all of the organization of my packet strategy, just now in digital format too!
  • Students will be able to access their packets ANYWHERE. No more, “I forgot my binder so I couldn’t do (fill in the blank)”
  • Students can print their filled in packets or an extra blank copy easily from home
  • You can now have a mixed classroom with some students paperless and others not. You can also start with just doing a few units digitally and others on paper. Whatever works best for you and your students. The point here is that you now have OPTIONS!
  • You have increased flexibility for students to easily learn and be connected outside the walls of your classroom.
  • A built in opportunity to help students grow in their digital literacy.
 

 

Why use a “packet” instead of an interactive notebook?

I started creating packets for my students over six years ago, and I love them so much more than interactive notebooks. While interactive notebooks are great resources that work for many teachers, I have found the packet strategy to be a more appropriate tool for using in the secondary classroom setting with my students. I love using the packet for many reasons:

  1. I only have to make copies one time each unit instead of copying handouts every day. Even though it takes a while to copy the packets for each student, it saves so much time on a day to day basis. (Also I’ve often recruited seniors to be my “Teacher’s Aide” and have trained them to copy all of my packets for me. I haven’t seen a copier in YEARS and it’s glorious!) You can also now go DIGITAL and PAPERLESS with the Google Drive™ version of the packet, if you prefer!
  2. It puts responsibility back on the students to maintain their A&P binder with their packet, while also aiding them in practicing organization skills. It has been incredibly effective for my lower level students especially. Even though it is a lot of papers to receive at once, I can watch them put it in their binder and leave it there, rather than having to hang on to numerous individual papers passed out each day. It has really eliminated the need for a textbook too, so students really only have to remember to bring ONE thing to class – their binder with their packet!
  3. It makes it so easy to be absent last minute. If you or your child gets sick, sub plans are a breeze. You don’t have to send your teacher neighbor to make copies for you – because your students already have everything they need. You just have to tell the sub which pages the students need to work on for the day. It was especially helpful for my long-term substitute when I was on maternity leave!
  4. The structure of the packet provides a more helpful method than interactive notebooks in preparing students for college – which should be one of our goals as high school teachers. The packet helps students learn how to structure notes (one of the reasons why I love teaching them how to write Cornell notes) and how to stay organized.
  5. They are a time saver in so many ways – no more time wasted regularly passing out handouts or having to cut and paste things into a notebook.
  6. Students do a better job keeping up with returned graded work because every page is numbered, so they can put graded assignments right back into the packet where it came from, setting them up to more likely refer back to graded work as they study.
  7. You no longer need a filing cabinet – you can keep all of your curriculum and keys organized in binders!

 

Why should I use this product in my classroom?

Designing curriculum for an entire unit that is engaging, activity-based, and standard-aligned can be exhausting. I’ve spent over 5 years creating this curriculum and have had amazing results. I had a 96% pass rate on the State standardized End-of-Course exam for Non-Honors students and a 100% pass rate for honors students. This was at a South Carolina public school with over 50% of the students being below the poverty line. My average score on the EOC (all 200+ students combined that I taught over 2 years) was a 90%. I believe this success is due to multiple factors, but I attribute a lot of it to the packet curriculum I have designed. Honestly, I could go on and on about the packet as a resource and why I love it so much, but I think you will find as you use it that you will fall in love with it too. Last but not least, this product comes with links to video lectures for each set of notes. This resource + all of the detailed lesson plans makes this product perfect for teachers new to this subject, going on maternity leave for a long-term sub, or using a flipped classroom strategy.

 

Interested in other physical science resources?

 

What if I have a question?

Email me at itsnotrocketsciencestore@gmail.com I’d love to answer any questions you have!

 

How do I stay updated on new products, sales, blogposts, and freebies?

Join my email list and follow me on Instagram!  These are the two best ways to keep up with what’s happening at It’s Not Rocket Science!

 

**TERMS OF USE**

 
You may:
  • Use this item for your own classroom, students, or for your own personal use.
  • Buy additional licenses for others to use this product at a discount by visiting your TpT “My Purchases” page.
  • Review this product to recommend others buy it in blog posts, at professional development workshops, or other venues as long as credit is given to my store with a direct link to my store/product.
You may not:
  • Upload this product to any unsecured website or server that other teachers can access for free.
  • Give this product to others without the purchase of an additional license for them (this includes emailing, printing copies, or sharing through a website, cloud or other network.)
  • Copy or modify any part of this document to offer others for free or for sale.
  • Use the resources for commercial use, such as teaching a course on Outschool or a similar platform using these resources.

 

 
*Note: NGSS is a registered trademark of WestEd. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.
Waves Unit
Waves Unit - Image 2
Waves Unit - Image 3
Waves Unit - Image 4

Waves Unit

Buy the full year curriculum and save!

$45.00

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