Transverse or Longitudinal?

Eight everyday examples, two bins. Students read each one - light from the Sun, sound through the air, a slinky, a rope, ripples, a drum, thunder, a guitar string - and decide whether it is a transverse wave (matter moves up and down) or a longitudinal wave (matter moves back and forth). It is the highest-value activity in the bundle and the core skill of TEKS 6.8C.

What's Included

• 1 student page: 8 illustrated cards (transverse / longitudinal) plus a Sum It Up fill-in with word bank
• 1 teacher key page with the answer and a one-line reason for every card, plus a Big Idea box
• Letter-size PDF, no prep

How It Helps You Teach

• Directly practices the transverse-vs-longitudinal distinction the standard is built on
• Uses everyday examples (light, sound, slinky, rope) so the abstract idea becomes concrete
• The Big Idea box reinforces that both types carry energy without carrying the matter along

Pair It With

Part of an Energy of Waves set: Reading in Science, this sort, Context Clues, Inferences, and Science in the News. Check out our library for the rest.

Perfect for 6th grade physical science, a science sort or station activity, a waves review, and TEKS 6.8C support. Topics include: transverse waves, longitudinal waves, sound, light, seismic waves, and energy transfer.

Standards: TEKS 6.8C; NGSS DCI PS4.A. Part of the Daily Science series by Workybooks.