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1st grade · Science · Unit 6 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.

Maine Learning Results learning standard: 1-PS4-4 · designing devices that use light or sound to communicate over a distance

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 Maine

In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 6 of 7 in 1st grade Science, after Ideas from Nature and before Plant Parts at Work.

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: Maine 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

    A red traffic light tells drivers to…

    • honk
    • turn on lights
    • stop
    • go fast

  2. Question 2

    A fire truck uses lights and a siren to…

    • warn people
    • sleep
    • make food
    • sing songs

  3. Question 3

    How can you call a friend across a field?

    • Whisper
    • Wave in the dark
    • Close your eyes
    • Blow a whistle

  4. Question 4

    Which signal can a friend see from a hill?

    • A small whisper
    • A quiet clap
    • A bright flag
    • A soft hum

  5. Question 5

    Flash a light 3 times means hello. This is a…

    • drawing
    • song
    • code
    • story

  6. Question 6

    You want to signal at night far away. Which is best?

    • A small flag
    • A whisper
    • A quiet bell
    • A bright flashing light

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