Crack the Code: Communicating Across Distances!

High School Grade Lesson 45 minutes

Crack the Code: Communicating Across Distances!

Luisa Fernanda Montes Arellano

4-PS4-1

4-PS4-2

4-PS4-3

4-LS1-2

1-pager

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is to engage students in hands-on exploration of sound, light, and waves through project-based learning. Students will develop models to understand wave patterns, how light allows us to see, and how information can be transferred over distances. By creating and decoding messages using codes, students will apply their understanding of communication technologies and reflect on the effectiveness of sound and light for long-distance communication.

Learning goals

Students will develop and use models to understand wave patterns, including amplitude and wavelength, and how these can cause objects to move. They will explore how light reflects off objects and enters the eye, enabling vision. Learners will generate and compare different methods to use patterns for transferring information over distances. Additionally, students will comprehend how animals receive, process, and respond to sensory information. Through hands-on activities, students will create and decode messages using sound and light, applying their understanding of communication technology.

Standards

4-PS4-1 - Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and that waves can cause objects to move.
4-PS4-2 - Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen.
4-PS4-3 - Generate and compare multiple solutions that use patterns to transfer information.
4-LS1-2 - Use a model to describe that animals' receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways.

Plan

Week 1	Day 1
Activities	Students are introduced to the concept of Morse code and encoded messages as a historical method of long-distance communication. They will watch a short video demonstrating how Morse code was used in the past and discuss its relevance to sound and light waves. The teacher will then present the essential question: 'How can we send messages through long distances?' Students will brainstorm in pairs about how they might use sound or light to send a message. (15 minutes) Students will engage in a hands-on activity to develop models of wave patterns using slinky toys or ropes. They will work in small groups to create waves and observe how amplitude and wavelength affect the movement of objects on the wave. The teacher will guide them to consider how these wave properties could be used in communication. Students will record their observations in their science journals, noting the relationship between wave properties and movement. (15 minutes) Students will pair up with classroom peers to create their own coded messages using sound or light (e.g., tapping, flashlight signals). Each pair will exchange their message with another pair, who will attempt to decode it. This activity encourages collaboration and application of learned concepts. Students will discuss as a class which method (sound or light) was more effective and why, connecting to the essential question of long-distance communication. (10 minutes) Students will individually reflect on the lesson by writing a brief response to the question: 'Should we use sound or light for long-distance communication?' They will consider the effectiveness of each method based on their experiences during the activities. This serves as an assessment of their understanding, as they must articulate their reasoning and the science behind their preference, demonstrating their grasp of wave properties and communication technology. (5 minutes)
Deliverables
Preparation