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1st grade · Science · Unit 2 of 12

Light and Sound

Where light and sound come from and how they move

What your child practices

Sound is made by vibrations and can bounce, travel and be absorbed. Light comes from sources such as the Sun, fire and electricity, travels in straight lines and bounces off surfaces. Children also learn to protect their eyes and ears.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 1.1; 1.3 · making sounds by vibrating things, and how light and sound meet different materials

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Sound is made by vibrations, tiny shakes.
  2. Soft things make sound quieter.
  3. Light comes from the Sun or fire, and bounces off a mirror.

Example: Hum with your fingers on your throat. What do you feel? Sound is made by shaking. You feel a vibration. Answer: a vibration

Light and Sound in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 2 of 12 in 1st grade Science, after Light & Sound and before Signals Far Away.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    The Sun is…

    ☀️
    • not a source of anything
    • a source of light
    • a source of sound

  2. Question 2

    Which is a safe way to look at light?

    • Use a magnifier on the Sun
    • Stare at the Sun
    • Never look right at the Sun

  3. Question 3

    Light usually travels in…

    • circles
    • straight lines
    • zigzags

  4. Question 4

    Which one is NOT a source of light?

    • the Sun
    • a flashlight
    • the Moon

  5. Question 5

    Does it make light or sound? Tap an item, then tap its basket.

    Sort into: 💡 light source · 🔊 sound source

    • 🎸a guitar string
    • 🔊a speaker
    • 🐕a barking dog
    • ☀️the Sun
    • ✨a firefly
    • 🔥a campfire

  6. Question 6

    A drum is hit. The drum skin moves back and forth fast. This is called…

    • melting
    • freezing
    • vibrating

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