Ride the Wave of Analogous Concepts

Co-authors: Whitney Beem & Ann-Margaret Somers Subject/ Grade Level: 8th grade physical science The purpose of this lesson is to provide students with the opportunity to compare and connect the properties of transverse and longitudinal waves to more concrete examples in everyday life. Duration: 1 class period (52 minutes) Georgia Performance Standard: S8P4. Students will explore the wave nature of sound and electromagnetic radiation. a. Identify the characteristics of electromagnetic and mechanical waves. FCS TAG Standard: Creative Thinking & Creative Problem Solving Skills 7. The student uses analogies, metaphors, and/or models to explain complex concepts. Summary/ Overview: The student will make comparisons of waves types to everyday items, ending in a compressed conflict exercise. Enduring Understanding: Students will be able to categorize different types of waves. Students will be able to understand differences among wave types by linking to prior knowledge. Essential Question: How do the types of waves compare to tangible objects? Activating Strategy: Mental Stretcher: If an atom were a house, what appliance or piece of furniture would the subatomic particles be? Sketch out each comparison on your warm up sheet. Teaching Strategy: 1. Acquiring the Content Each student will individually read textbook pages 574 579. Once a student finishes the reading, he/ she should complete the Content Organizer. Enriched Modification: Students will illustrate examples of waves and explain how we interact with waves in our daily lives. 2. Direct Analogy Students will come together in predetermined groups of four to share out the information from their Content Organizers. They will then, as a group, complete a Direct Analogy chart making the following comparisons:

a. How transverse waves are like the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags over Georgia. (http://www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/rides/GreatAmericanScreamMachine .aspx) b. How longitudinal waves are like an inchworm. 3. Personal Analogy Students should work individually or with a partner to complete the personal analogy. They will answer the following questions as both a transverse and longitudinal wave: a. Where can you travel? b. What energy types can you transform into? c. How does it feel to travel? d. How does it feel to convert From this information, students will write a paragraph, poem, or song in first person about their life as a wave. Remediation Modification: Students may draw their personal analogy instead of write. Enriched Modification: Students will create a cartoon where the main character is the wave. 4. Compressed Conflict Students will return to their original groups of 4 to create compressed conflicts. Students will have to pick either transverse or longitudinal waves and come up with five important words to describe the wave type. Then, students will develop an antonym for each word they have chosen. At the bottom of the graphic organizer, students will create three compressed conflicts where the pairs of words seem to fight each other but still describe their chosen wave. Remediation Modification: Provide students with partially filled in graphic organizer. Summary Groups will share out their compressed conflicts with the whole group, allowing time for discussion of each compressed conflict.

Content Organizer Content to be examined: Content Organiz

What do they look like? (use pictures or words)

What are its parts?

How do they travel?

What key vocabulary is necessary to know to understand the different waves?

How is a Transverse Wave

Like the Great American Scream Machine (at Six Flags)

How are they not alike?

How is a Longitudinal Wave

Like an inch worm

How are they not alike?

Personal Analogy Waves Pretend that you are a transverse wave and answer the following questions as if you were that green plant. Where can you travel? What energy types can you transform into?

How does it feel to travel?

How does it feel to convert forms?

Write a paragraph, poem, or song in first person about your life as a transverse wave.

Personal Analogy Waves Pretend that you are a longitudinal wave and answer the following questions as if you were that green plant. Where can you travel? What energy types can you transform into?

How does it feel to travel?

How does it feel to convert forms?

Write a paragraph, poem, or song in first person about your life as a longitudinal wave.

Compressed Conflict Waves List five important words to describe transverse/longitudinal waves. (Circle your chosen wave type) 1. List an antonyms for each word to the left.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Review your original list and its antonyms. Do any of the pairs of words seem to fight each other but still describe transverse/longitudinal waves? Create three Compressed Conflicts.