On this two-page 4th grade science diagram, students write five labels onto a wave: crest, trough, rest position, amplitude, and wavelength. A word bank sits above the diagram. The task models a wave as NGSS 4-PS4-1 describes, in terms of amplitude and wavelength. Rest position is on the list, so students see the line that amplitude is measured from. The answer key maps each term to a letter, from A for crest to E for wavelength.
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.”
The whole diagram. Placing amplitude against the rest position and wavelength between two crests is the model the standard asks for.
Five terms sit in the box: Amplitude, Trough, Rest position, Wavelength, and Crest.
Students write each term on the blank line that points to its part of the wave.
Letters A to E match Crest, Trough, Rest position, Amplitude, and Wavelength, in that order.
Next-day check
Give it the day after you introduce wave vocabulary. Five labels take only a few minutes and show who confuses amplitude with wavelength.
Science notebooks
Shrink the diagram and have students glue it into their notebooks. They can color-code the five labels for later review.
Unit retest
Give the sheet again at the end of the waves unit with the word bank covered. Students then recall the five terms without help.
Get started today
