Exploring Ocean Tides: The Moon’s Influence on Earth

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why the ocean water rises and falls every day? What force is powerful enough to move the sea? In this WebQuest, you will become a young scientist and discover how the Moon and the Sun influence the movement of Earth’s oceans. By the end of this journey, you will be able to explain ocean tides in your own words and show how they affect people’s daily lives.

Task

Your task is to create a digital infographic or poster that explains:

  1. What causes tides.

  2. The difference between high tide and low tide.

  3. Real-life examples of how tides affect human activities (e.g., fishing, surfing, travel).

Your infographic will be presented to the class and submitted online.

Process

Process:

  1. Start by watching the introductory video on tides (see resources).

  2. Read the articles provided to understand how the Moon and the Sun cause tides.

  3. Work with a partner to gather key information and note important points.

  4. Use a free online tool (like Canva or Google Slides) to design your infographic/poster.

  5. Make sure your infographic answers the 3 main questions in the Task section.

  6. Submit your work on the class platform and prepare to explain your design briefly.

Resources:

Evaluation

Evaluation (Rubric):

Criteria Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Needs Improvement (1)
Accuracy of Content All info is correct and clearly explained Minor errors but mostly correct Several inaccuracies Many inaccuracies
Creativity & Design Very engaging and visually appealing Clear design with some creativity Basic design, little creativity Poorly designed, hard to read
Completeness All 3 questions fully answered 2 questions fully answered Only 1 question answered No clear answers provided
Use of Resources Used all provided resources effectively Used most resources Used few resources Did not use resources
Conclusion

Congratulations! You have just explored how the Moon and Sun control the tides. You now understand why the ocean never stays still and why tides matter in our daily lives. Reflect on this: How would life be different if Earth had no tides?