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2nd grade · Science · Unit 8 of 14

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.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: 2.8(B); 2.8(C) · using sound to communicate over a distance, from whispers to alarms

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Light and sound can send messages far away.
  2. A flashlight sends light signals. A horn or whistle sends sound signals.
  3. Green means go and red means stop on a traffic light.

Example: A green traffic light tells drivers to…? Red means stop. Green means go. Answer: go

Signals Far Away in Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 8 of 14 in 2nd grade Science, after Light and Sound and before Plants, Seeds & Pollinators.

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: Texas Education Agency (TEA)

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 lighthouse helps ships by…

    • making smoke
    • playing music
    • shining a light
    • blowing wind

  2. Question 2

    Which is a sound signal?

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

  3. Question 3

    Two cups and a string make a…

    • lamp
    • drum
    • cup phone
    • mirror

  4. Question 4

    Why does a smoke alarm beep?

    • To warn of smoke
    • To wake the sun
    • To call a dog
    • To play a game

  5. Question 5

    A fire truck uses lights and a siren to…

    • warn people
    • sleep
    • sing songs
    • make food

  6. Question 6

    A whistle signal is too quiet. What could you try?

    • Use a feather
    • Stop signaling
    • Blow softer
    • Blow harder or use a horn

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