Waves and Their Properties Science Games

9 games

In this series of games, your students will learn about the different types of waves, their anatomy, and how they are generated. The Waves and Their Properties learning objective — based on NGSS and state standards — delivers improved student engagement and academic performance in your classroom, as demonstrated by research.

Scroll down for a preview of this learning objective’s games and the concepts they drive home.

Concepts Covered

Waves are disturbances that transfer energy from one place to another.

Mechanical waves travel through matter, causing it to vibrate, expand and contract (longitudinal waves), move up and down (transverse waves), side to side, or in circles. They include water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves. Their speed depends on the material they travel through.

There are many different measurements used to describe waves:

  • Wavelength – the distance between two wave peaks.
  • Amplitude – half the distance between the lowest point (trough) and highest point (crest or peak).
  • Frequency – how many wavelengths pass over a period of time.
  • Period – how long it takes for one wavelength to pass a single point.
  • Speed – the distance a wave travels over time.

A mechanical wave’s energy is related to its amplitude and frequency. The higher these measurements are, the more energy the wave carries. In a sound wave, more amplitude means louder volume, and higher frequency means higher pitch.

Waves are created when energy is transferred. Some examples include: wind transfers kinetic energy to water, causing water waves; collisions cause matter to vibrate and make sound; shifting rocks transfer energy to each other and cause seismic waves.

When waves transfer energy, they can create other types of waves, such as when water waves crash into the shore and create sound waves.

A preview of each game in the learning objective is found below.

You can access all of the games on Legends of Learning for free, forever, with a teacher account. A free teacher account also allows you to create playlists of games and assignments for students and track class progress. Sign up for free today!

Image for Compare Two Numbers
Compare Two Numbers Estimated Duration: 4 minutes Compare Two Numbers
Image for Fishing Numbers
Fishing Numbers Estimated Duration: 9 minutes Travel to the Great Lake, filled with plenty of different sized fish, and work with the greatest fisher mathling to catch a good haul of fish! However, he wants the correct amount of fish that have the correct numbers on them, as they are precious for his business. Learn to identify which number is greater or smaller than the other.
Image for Number Compare - Compare
Number Compare - Compare Estimated Duration: 10 minutes Create meaning of greater than, less than, and equal to by moving objects into two independent play areas and watching the graph in the middle update in real time. Choose between a bar graph and a number line, and hear the comparison statement read out loud in English and another language of your choice.
Image for Number Compare - Lab
Number Compare - Lab Estimated Duration: 10 minutes Use this interactive whiteboard to create addition, subtraction, or comparison problems without feedback. Organize objects into ten-frames to visually compare which has more, or whether the number of objects are equal. Be creative in how subtraction is modeled.
Image for Magical Forest Deluxe
Magical Forest Deluxe Estimated Duration: 15 minutes Find yourself in a magical forest full of treasures and adventures. Collect coins and berries, answer questions, earn points! Good luck!
Image for Robot Chef
Robot Chef Estimated Duration: 18 minutes Congratulations, you are creating the first all-robot restaurant in the city! As you serve more customers, you will be able to build more robots to assist in delivering tasty treats. Attend Night School and answer questions to earn advanced robot chefs!
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