Wind and Waves
Activity link: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/for-educators/teacher-professional-development/curriculum/wind-and-waves
Grades: 4+
Duration: 30 minutes
Materials:
-
- Water
- dishpan
- straws
- paper
- battery-operated fan
- wave maker (half of a plastic plate or other 4-inch by 6-inch piece of wood or plastic)
- rocks in assorted sizes (some large enough to extend above the water in the dishpan)
- clay
- gravel (optional)
OSO alignment: Students learn about how plankton drift with the currents, tides, and wind. Students record wind data on the boat but are not introduced to what causes ocean waves. This exercise introduces students to the cause and effect of ocean waves.
NGSS performance expectations: 4-PS4-1. Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and that waves can cause
objects to move. MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.