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1st grade · Science · Unit 2 of 7

Signals Far Away

Use light and sound to send messages.

What your child practices

Practices how light and sound can carry a message over a distance, from flashlights and whistles to drums and signal flags, and how to design a simple signal.

Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 1.P2U1.1; 1.P2U1.2 · light passing through or being blocked by materials, and vibrations that make sound

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Light and sound can send messages far away.
  2. A traffic light is a light signal. A horn is a sound signal.
  3. A code is a set signal, like 3 flashes for hello.

Example: Is a bike bell a light signal or a sound signal? You hear a bell ring. Hearing means sound. Answer: a sound signal

Signals Far Away in Arizona

In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 2 of 7 in 1st grade Science, after Push & Pull and before Parents & Babies.

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: Arizona Department of Education

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

    It is dark. Which signal works best?

    • A flag
    • A painted sign
    • A hand wave
    • A flashlight

  2. Question 2

    A green traffic light tells drivers to…

    • go
    • stop
    • turn around
    • sleep

  3. Question 3

    Which is a sound signal?

    • A stop sign
    • A flag
    • A traffic light
    • A doorbell

  4. Question 4

    A fire truck uses lights and a siren to…

    • warn people
    • sing songs
    • make food
    • sleep

  5. Question 5

    A bike bell tells people…

    • it is lunch
    • it is raining
    • school is over
    • a bike is coming

  6. Question 6

    You and a friend make a code. One beep means…

    • always stop
    • nothing ever
    • whatever you agree on
    • always lunch

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