Tides

Lesson Plan

Question of the Day

  • What causes our tides in our ocean and how many types of tides do we have?

Answer: They are caused by the gravitational forces exerted on the earth by the moon, and to a lesser extent, the sun. When the highest point in the wave, or the crest, reaches a coast, the coast experiences a high tide. When the lowest point, or the trough, reaches a coast, the coast experiences a low tide.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be expected to know what causes our tides.

  • Students will also understand the diagram below.

  • Students will be able to identify what the certain tides are on an empty diagram.

What are Tides?

  • Tides are very long-period waves that move through the ocean in response to the forces exerted by the moon and sun. Tides originate in the ocean and progress toward the coastlines where they appear as the regular rise and fall of the sea surface.

PowerPoint

Tides

Videos

Worksheets

Answer Key:

  1. Spring Tide

  2. New Moon

  3. Full Moon

  4. Neap Tide

  5. First Quarter

  6. Third Quarter