Worksheet

Park Maze Message Makers

Design a park maze signal, compare drum test results, and plan a light device to send messages across a clear path.

Grade 1ScienceInteractive · Printable

Aligned to1-PS4-4

Play online Play as a game

PrintLetter-size worksheet Answer keyPrintable answers

Assign to classAssign to your classes, or get a join code

What’s included

Single worksheet
Auto-graded online
1 NGSS standard
Printable answer key
12 questions
Classroom-ready

Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 1
Subject: Science
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Circle the answer, Short answer, Drawing

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students choose light or sound devices to send messages over a distance.
Students compare signal test results to choose a device.
Students draw a message device and describe how to test it.

How to use

Read the passage and prompts aloud. Review the graph together, then let children choose designs and draw their own device. Any hands-on test should be supervised.

Curriculum

NGSS standard covered

1-PS4-4

Design a simple device that uses light or sound to send a message over a distance.

Preview

OwlSheets.com

Name Date

Park Maze Message Makers

Build and test a device that sends a message.

A Message at the Maze

Listen to the passage. Choose answers that fit the helpers' job.

Two Helper Tables

At a city park, Inez and Omar help with a maze game. Their tables are 20 big steps apart. A tall hedge stands between them. They cannot see each other's table, but they can hear a hand drum. They need to send two messages without leaving their tables.

They can make a drum from an empty container with a lid. They will tap the lid gently with a hand. One tap will mean “come.” Two quick taps will mean “wait.” They will leave a long pause between messages. They also have a flashlight and cardboard for making a holder.

Which plan best fits the tables behind the hedge?

A. Hold up a card for Omar to read.
B. Flash a light low behind the hedge.
C. Tap a drum for Omar to hear.
D. Wave a flag below the hedge.

Which parts can make the drum described in the passage?

A. A flashlight and a cardboard holder
B. An empty container and its lid
C. A paper flag and a short stick
D. A message card and a card stand

Inez wants to send “wait,” then “come.” Which pattern should she tap?

A. Two quick taps, long pause, one tap
B. One tap, long pause, two quick taps
C. Two quick taps, long pause, two quick taps
D. One tap, long pause, one tap

How can Inez check that Omar understood a test message?

A. Check whether her drum has a lid.
B. Count how many taps she can make.
C. Look at the color of Omar's table.
D. Ask Omar which message he heard.

Compare the Drum Tests

Use the test notes and graph. A correct message means Omar heard the taps and named the right message.

The helpers test three drums: a cup, a box, and a tub, each with a lid. They stay at the same tables. Inez sends the same five messages with each drum. She uses gentle hand taps each time. Omar records how many messages he names correctly.

How many more messages were correct with the tub than with the cup? more messages

The helpers want at least four correct messages in five tries. Which drum met that goal?

A. The cup drum
B. The box drum
C. All three drums
D. The tub drum

Circle the TWO claims the graph supports.

The box worked better than the cup in this test.The cup and tub worked equally well in this test.The box worked better than the tub in this test.The tub worked better than both other drums in this test.

For a new test, Omar moves close for the cup but far away for the tub. What should the helpers fix?

A. Use a different message code for each drum.
B. Use the same distance for both drums.
C. Send more messages with only the tub.
D. Use gentle taps for only the cup.

Design for a New Spot

Use the new clues. Then draw a device and tell how to test it.

Later, the helpers move to two tables beside a clear path. No hedge blocks the view. Nearby music covers the drum taps, but Omar can see Inez's flashlight flashes. They agree that one flash means “come” and two quick flashes mean “wait.” For safety, they aim the light at a card beside Omar, never at his eyes.

Which device best fits the new spot?