Science · Stage 6

Waves, Light and Sound

Drop a straw in water and watch it bend, shout into a canyon for an echo, and peek through a lens — discover how light and sound travel outward as waves of energy!

✦ Science📘 Stage 6 · S6⏱ ~14 min🧒 Ages 10–12★ Free to start

I can describe light and sound as waves, and explain reflection, refraction and simple lenses.

Start the free lesson →⬇ Printable PDF

📖

Kavi and the Bent Straw

Kavi drops a straw into a glass of water 🥤 and gasps — "It looks snapped in half! But my finger says it's still straight…" Then Kavi claps loudly in a tunnel and a voice answers back. "An echo! That's my own clap bouncing home!" Kavi grins. "Light bends, sound bounces — both of them are waves carrying energy to me. Come and explore light and sound with me!"

🎓

What your child will learn

1Light and sound are both wavesA wave is a wobble that carries energy outward from a source — it carries energy, not stuff. Light and sound are both waves. Tap each part!

2Reflection or refraction?Both start with a wave meeting a surface — but one bounces back and one bends through. Tap each card!

3Light wave or sound wave?Both are waves carrying energy — but they behave differently. Decide which wave each one is about. Tap the right box!

4Guess first, then check!Good scientists predict, then test. Pick your guess, then tap to check! Tap Next test for more.

🔍

A peek inside

Kavi watches two astronauts on the airless Moon 🌕. They can hear each other when they touch helmets, but not across the empty gap between them. Why?

Sound is a wave that needs a material to travel through. When their helmets touch, the sound vibrates through the solid helmets. But the empty space between them has no air, so there is nothing for a sound wave to travel through.

Try this at home: Name two things that are both waves carrying energy from a source.

Ready to play and learn?

Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.

Start the free lesson →⬇ Download PDF

Part of Science · Stage 6 · S6 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.