In this unit, students investigate with sound and light to see how sound and light can be used to communicate with an audience in a theater. Students will explore different light sources, mirrors, and shadows, but they will not discuss the speed of light. They will also not need to know technical details for how some communication devices work. They will further explore waves and their applications in technologies for information transfer in Grade 4 Unit 1 Energy Transfer and Transformation and Grade 4 Unit 2 Investigating Waves.

Students explore and solve problems related to sound and light as they begin to think about how an audience interprets sound and light. Throughout the unit, they will use prior knowledge, observations, and hands-on experience to begin to understand how information conveyed through sound and light is received using different technologies. They will demonstrate this understanding as they solve an engineering problem focused on designing a tool that can be used to signal audience participation during a school play. The unit Exploring Light and Sound provides students the opportunity to explore concepts that include the following:

• Sound can make matter vibrate, and vibrating matter can make us hear a sound.
• Objects can be seen if light is available to illuminate them or if they give off their own light.
• Some materials allow light to pass through them, others allow only some light through, and others block all the light and create a dark shadow on any surface beyond them, where the light cannot reach. Mirrors can be used to redirect a light beam.
• People also use a variety of devices to communicate (send and receive information) over long distances.

CKSci is informed by the NGSS, which encourages student learning through hands-on activities and collecting data. This activity-centered approach requires, at times, that schools collect or purchase materials and equipment that will be needed to complete activities.

Complete materials supply list for CKSci Unit 3: Exploring Light and Sound