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Wave Crests and Troughs — Reading Comprehension

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NGSS 4-PS4-1

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This engaging 250-word passage introduces Grade 4-5 students to the fundamental parts of transverse waves: crests and troughs. Aligned with NGSS 4-PS4-1, the passage explains how the crest is the highest point of a wave and the trough is the lowest point. Students learn how waves continuously move between these high and low points, creating the repeating pattern we recognize as wave motion. The passage uses concrete examples, including the familiar image of a cork bobbing on water as waves pass underneath it. Through clear explanations and relatable analogies, students discover how wave parts work together to create movement. The audio-integrated lesson includes a simplified differentiated version, Spanish translations, interactive multiple-choice questions, writing activities, and graphic organizers. Students explore vocabulary terms like crest, trough, transverse wave, and wave motion while developing scientific understanding through hands-on mental models. This comprehensive resource helps elementary students build foundational knowledge about wave properties and behavior.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Waves are disturbances that carry energy from one place to another. When you look at a wave moving across water, you can see it has a shape that goes up and down in a regular pattern. This repeating pattern is made up of two main parts: crests and troughs.

The crest is the highest point of a wave. When you watch an ocean wave, the crest is the top part that rises above the rest of the water. The trough is the opposite—it is the lowest point of a wave. The trough dips down below the normal water level. These waves that move up and down are called transverse waves, which means the energy moves forward while the water itself moves up and down.

Waves don't stay still in one position. They continuously move in a repeating pattern, going from crest to trough and back to crest again. This constant motion creates what we call wave motion. Think of it like a roller coaster that goes up to the highest hill, down to the lowest valley, then back up again over and over.

You can see this wave motion clearly if you watch a cork floating on water. As a wave passes underneath the cork, the cork rises up when the crest reaches it. Then the cork drops down when the trough passes by. The cork bobs up and down, but it doesn't move forward with the wave. This shows us that the water itself isn't traveling—only the energy is moving through the water.

Scientists measure waves by looking at the distance between crests and troughs. The bigger the distance from the trough to the crest, the more energy the wave carries. Ocean waves can have very tall crests and deep troughs, which is why they carry so much power.

Understanding wave crests and troughs helps us recognize wave patterns in nature. Whether you're watching ripples in a pond, waves at the beach, or even sound waves traveling through air, these same parts work together to create the wave motion all around us.

What is the highest point of a wave?

The crestThe troughThe middleThe bottom

What is the lowest point of a wave?

The topThe crestThe troughThe center

What does a wave carry from place to place?

Water onlyEnergyCorksAir

Why does a cork bob up and down?

It moves with the wave forwardIt rises at crests and drops at troughsIt sinks in the waterIt floats away from waves

What creates more powerful ocean waves?

Small distance between crest and troughTall crests and deep troughsSlow wave motionFlat water surface

What happens to water as waves pass?

It travels forward with the waveIt disappears completelyIt moves up and down in placeIt becomes solid

Waves stay in one position and never move.

TrueFalse

What does wave motion mean?

Waves that don't moveThe repeating pattern of wave movementOnly ocean wavesWaves moving in circles

Perfect For:

👩‍🏫 Teachers

• Reading comprehension practice
• Auto-graded assessments
• Literacy skill development

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents

• Reading practice at home
• Comprehension improvement
• Educational reading time

🏠 Homeschoolers

• Reading curriculum support
• Independent reading practice
• Progress monitoring

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Comprehension Quiz

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