Before using these tasks, consider reviewing the Guidance for Use document, which provides suggestions for the most effective ways the TDSciN Task Library can be used to support high-quality science teaching and learning.

Tennessee Academic Standards for Science

• 8PS4.2: Compare and contrast mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves based on refraction, reflection, transmission, absorption, and their behavior through a vacuum and/or various media.
• 8PS4.3: Evaluate the role that waves play in different communication systems.

Next Generation Science Standards

• Science and Engineering Practices
  Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
  • Middle School Element: Apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence to construct, revise and/or use an explanation for real-world phenomena, examples, or events.
• Disciplinary Core Ideas
  PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Middle School Element: When light shines on an object, it is reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through the object, depending on the object’s material and the frequency (color) of the light.

  PS4.C: Information Technologies and Instrumentation

  • Middle School Element: Digitized signals (sent as wave pulses) are a more reliable way to encode and transmit information.
• Crosscutting Concepts
  Systems and System Models
  • Middle School Element: Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems.
  • Middle School Element: Models can be used to represent systems and their interactions—such as inputs, processes and outputs—and energy, matter, and information flows within systems.
  • Grade 3-5 Element: A system can be described in terms of its components and their interactions.