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6th Grade  Project 1 week

Light Wave Wizards: Unraveling Spectrums!

Christine L
Mar 27, 2026
Updated Apr 9, 2026
MS-PS4-2
MS-PS4-2
MS-PS4-1
MS-PS4-1
Effective Communication
+ 4 more
1-pager

Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to engage sixth-grade students in an exploration of the principles of light and waves by connecting theoretical concepts to practical, real-world applications. Through interactive exhibits and experiments, students will develop models, analyze data, and present findings that illuminate the relationships between wave properties and their perceptions of sound and light. By actively participating in collaborative creation and presentation, students will hone critical thinking and communication skills, deepening their understanding of how amplitude, frequency, and wavelength influence experiences like color and pitch.

Learning goals

Students will explore the relationship between wave properties and real-world experiences of light and sound through hands-on modeling and collaborative project creation. They will gain an understanding of key wave properties—such as amplitude, frequency, and wavelength—and how these factors influence light color and sound pitch. Through the development and presentation of interactive exhibits and a digital documentary, students will demonstrate critical thinking, effective communication, and collaboration while applying scientific concepts to practical, engaging contexts.

Standards
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] MS-PS4-2 - Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] MS-PS4-2 - Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] 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.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] 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.
Competencies
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
  • Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
  • Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.

Products

Students will collaboratively produce interactive exhibits for the 'Pitch Perfect Light' gallery, showcasing models and demonstrations of wave properties' effects on sound and light. Additionally, each student will create a digital documentary that captures their explorations and findings on how amplitude, wavelength, and frequency impact our perception of color and pitch. These products will serve as culminating showcases, reflecting students' deepened understanding and effective communication of core scientific concepts in accessible and engaging formats.

Launch

To kick off the project, students will attend a 'Pitch Perfect Light' gallery where they encounter interactive stations that challenge them to manipulate wave properties and observe outcomes in both light and sound. Each station prompts students to explore real-world scenarios, such as tuning a musical instrument or adjusting lighting effects, to better understand the connection between amplitude, frequency, and human perception. This hands-on introduction sets the stage for collaboration as students brainstorm ideas for their digital documentary, establishing a shared framework for deeper inquiry into waves.

Exhibition

Host a "Wave Wonders" showcase where students present their digital documentaries alongside interactive exhibits from the 'Pitch Perfect Light' gallery. Invite peers, teachers, and family members to experience the students' models and demonstrations that reveal the intricate relationships between wave properties and everyday experiences with light and sound. Encourage attendees to engage in discussions, ask questions, and provide feedback, further enriching the learning experience.

Plan
By Phase By Day Calendar
Question Design Collect Analyze Conclude
Question
Students will encounter puzzling light and sound phenomena in a ‘Pitch Perfect Light’ gallery, generate and refine investigable questions about wave properties, and produce a focused research question with a clear hypothesis that will guide their investigation and digital documentary.
Day 1
🎛️ Pitch Perfect Light Gallery
Launch 20m
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Design
Students will design a systematic, peer-reviewed methodology to investigate how specific wave properties (amplitude, frequency, wavelength) relate to energy, color, pitch, and wave interactions with materials before collecting any data.
Day 2
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Collect
Students will systematically gather and document high-quality wave data using their approved investigation plans, carefully recording conditions, measurements, and anomalies to build a reliable evidence base for later analysis of amplitude–energy and frequency–pitch/color relationships.
Day 3
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Analyze
Students will interpret and visualize their wave investigation data, identify patterns and anomalies, and connect their findings to their original research question and hypothesis in preparation for drawing evidence-based conclusions for their digital documentary.
Day 3
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Conclude
Students will synthesize their wave investigation findings into evidence-based conclusions, explicitly acknowledge limitations, generate new investigable questions, and present their digital documentaries and models to an authentic audience at the Wave Wonders showcase.
Day 3
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Question
🎛️ Pitch Perfect Light Gallery
Launch 20m
Design
Collect
Analyze
Conclude

June 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1 Day 1
Question
🎛️ Pitch Perfect Light Gallery
2 Day 2
Design
3 Day 3
Conclude
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