Properties of Waves Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This complete unit equips middle school teachers with everything needed to introduce students to the properties of waves. Students explore how matter and energy interact when waves are generated, the three main types of mechanical waves, and key wave properties. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday use with minimal prep, it emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning so teachers can focus on facilitating mastery.

Essential Questions for Students

• How do matter and energy interact when waves are generated?

• What are the three main types of mechanical waves?

• What are properties of waves?

Note for Texas teachers: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 standards.

Key Features

• Differentiated materials to support students at varying levels

• Multimodal activities to engage all learning styles

• Flexible implementation—resources available in both printable and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints for easy customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab reading passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson follows the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—ensuring a structured mix of inquiry, practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with discussion prompts, classroom activity ideas, and common misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introduces the properties of waves through multimodal learning

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demonstration or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension questions

• Research It! – Guided online activity with structured follow-up tasks

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion prompts

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Printable and digital card sorts for categorization

• Write It! – Open-ended written responses in complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Sketching/drawing to reinforce wave concepts

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery-based questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Enrichment activities such as puzzles, crosswords, games, and mini-projects for early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in standard and interactive versions

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Note-taking templates for student use

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on wave properties to extend or apply learning

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, with standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and discussion questions for homework, practice, or test review

Flexible Learning Options

This resource works in both in-person and virtual settings. The digital station lab and interactive notebook activities are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them easy to use in blended or remote classrooms.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.