When the Tide Comes In: A Tidal Treasure Hunt!
 
Introduction: Have you ever visited the ocean? Have you ever built a sand castle and then watched the waves get closer and closer until they start washing away the outer wall of your sand castle? Bit by bit your castle starts to crumble into the sea. Slowly the waves come higher and higher up the beach until your entire sand castle is washed away. The tide has come in. But why does that happen? What is the tide?
 
Instructions: A treasure hunt is a fun way to find information on the Internet in order to answer some questions. This Treasure Hunt is about the ocean tides. It will lead you to some web pages about the tides. Click on each Internet link and read carefully before answering each question. You may not always need to read the whole web page to find the answer. Answer each question in a complete sentence on the answer sheet. Have fun surfing!
 
 
1. What are tides and what causes tides?

2. What is a high tide? What is a low tide?

3. What is sea level?

4. Draw a diagram illustrating a high tide and a low tide.

5. Why can’t the Sun and the Moon yank you off the planet?
 
6. What two objects in our sky cause ocean tides? Which has the greater effect?
 
7. Explain what causes a spring tide.

8. Explain what causes a neap tide.
 
9. Draw a diagram illustrating a spring tide and a neap tide.

10. How long is a tidal cycle?

11. How many high tides normally occur each day? How many low tides normally occur each day?
 
12. What is the most interesting thing you learned today about tides? Use of the web pages you have already visited.