Technology for Teaching and Learning

Unit of Study: Ocean Tides

Grade Level: Grade 8 Science

Subject: Earth and Space Science

Topic: Ocean Tides

Introduction

Have you ever noticed why the ocean water rises and falls every day? Fishermen, sailors, and coastal communities depend on tides for their daily activities. But what causes tides?

In this WebQuest, you will become junior ocean scientists who will investigate how the Moon, Sun, and Earth work together to create ocean tides. You will explore online resources, analyze information, and explain tidal movements like real scientists.

Task

Your task is to work in groups and create a digital presentation or infographic explaining:

✅ What ocean tides are

✅ Causes of ocean tides

✅ Types of tides

✅ Importance of tides to humans and the environment

Final Output:

• PowerPoint Presentation / Canva Infographic / Poster Presentation

Process

Follow these steps:

Step 1 – Form Groups

• Create groups of 3–4 students.

• Assign roles:

  • Researcher

  • Writer

  • Designer

  • Presenter

Step 2 – Research

Use the provided websites to answer the following questions:

• What are tides?

• How does the Moon affect tides?

• How does the Sun influence tides?

• What are high tide and low tide?

• What are spring and neap tides?

Step 3 – Organize Information

• Summarize important facts.

• Create diagrams or illustrations.

• Prepare explanations in your own words.

Step 4 – Create Your Product

Choose one:

• Digital Slide Presentation

• Infographic

• Educational Poster

Step 5 – Present

Present your work to the class and explain how tides occur.

Resources

Students may use the following resources:

• https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_tides/

• https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/tide/

• https://www.britannica.com/science/tide

• https://science.nasa.gov/moon/tides/

• Science textbook (Grade 8 Earth Science)

Evaluation

WebQuest Rubric

Criteria	Excellent (4)	Good (3)	Fair (2)	Needs Improvement (1)
Content Accuracy	Complete & correct explanation	Minor errors	Some incorrect info	Incorrect understanding
Organization	Very clear & logical	Mostly organized	Some confusion	Disorganized
Creativity	Highly engaging design	Good visuals	Limited visuals	No creativity
Teamwork	Excellent collaboration	Good participation	Uneven participation	Poor teamwork
Presentation	Clear & confident	Understandable	Some difficulty	Unclear presentation

Total Score: 20 points

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have explored how gravitational forces between the Earth, Moon, and Sun create ocean tides. Through research and collaboration, you experienced how scientists investigate natural phenomena.

Reflect:

• Why are tides important to humans?

• How does understanding tides help coastal communities?