Sending a Message
Aligned to 1-PS4-4 — Next Generation Science Standards.

What this lesson teaches
We can use light or sound to send a message to someone far away. A flash or a sound can tell a friend something without shouting.
Worked examples
Example 1
You can flash a flashlight on and off to say hello to a friend across the yard, or ring a bell to call everyone to dinner.
Example 2
A fire alarm makes a loud sound so everyone in the building knows to leave right away.
Example 3
A stop sign works without any sound at all. Its shape and color carry the message just as well.
Practice questions
- Think of a way to say "come here" using only a sound. What would you use?
- Blink a flashlight two times at a friend. Can they blink back?
- Listen for sounds that send you a message, like a doorbell or a car horn.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Enviar un mensaje
Podemos usar la luz o el sonido para enviar un mensaje a alguien que está lejos. Un destello o un sonido puede decirle algo a un amigo sin gritar.
Ejemplo 1: Puedes prender y apagar una linterna para saludar a un amigo al otro lado del patio, o tocar una campana para llamar a todos a cenar.
Ejemplo 2: Una alarma de incendios hace un sonido muy fuerte para que todos en el edificio sepan que deben salir de inmediato.
Ejemplo 3: Una señal de alto funciona sin ningún sonido. Su forma y su color llevan el mensaje igual de bien.
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