Mission Library

In the Cards
Sound and Vibration
Grades K-1

The Mission
17 min

Storyline

Students will use their knowledge of sound and vibration to help Dug avoid a catastrophe at the Intergalactic Card Stacking Competition.

Dug has signed up to compete in the Intergalactic Card Stacking Competition. He's in the semi-finals, but something is happening. When the finalists set up their cards, all of the cards suddenly fall over. The organizers of the event need our help to uncover what is causing the cards to tumble. Is it a devious culprit? A daring case of sabotage? Or is it some force of nature involved?

3-Dimensional Science

Phenomenon

Card towers are falling and no one knows why.

Science and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

  • Make observations (firsthand or from media) and/or measurements to collect data that can be used to make comparisons.

  • Make observations (firsthand or from media) and/or measurements of a proposed object or tool or solution to determine if it solves a problem or meets a goal.

  • Make predictions based on prior experiences.

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

  • Students learn that events have causes that generate observable patterns. They design simple tests to gather evidence to support or refute their own ideas about causes.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

PS4.A: Wave Properties

  • Sound can make matter vibrate, and vibrating matter can make sound.

Resources
Targeted Standards
Timeline
Skills in Action