Introduction
Have you ever noticed that the sea level changes throughout the day? Sometimes the water moves closer to the shore, while at other times it moves farther away. These changes are called ocean tides.
In this WebQuest, you will become a young ocean scientist. You will investigate how the Moon and the Sun affect ocean tides and discover why high and low tides occur.
Task
Your task is to investigate the causes of ocean tides and create a digital poster or presentation explaining:
- What ocean tides are
- What causes tides
- How the Moon affects ocean tides
- How the Sun affects tides
- The difference between high tide and low tide
- One interesting fact about ocean tides
At the end of the activity, your group will present your work to the class.
Process
Work in groups of 3–4 students.
Step 1: Research what ocean tides are using the websites provided by your teacher.
Step 2: Find out how the gravitational pull of the Moon affects ocean water.
Step 3: Investigate how the Sun also affects tides.
Step 4: Identify and explain the difference between high tide and low tide.
Step 5: Create a digital poster or presentation showing your findings. Include pictures, diagrams, and short explanations.
Step 6: Review your work using the evaluation rubric.
Step 7: Present your output to the class and explain what your group learned.
Evaluation
Total: 20 points
| Criteria | Excellent (4) | Good (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content | Information is accurate and complete | Mostly accurate | Some information is missing | Information is limited or inaccurate |
| Understanding | Clearly explains causes of tides | Explains most concepts | Shows partial understanding | Shows little understanding |
| Presentation | Very clear, organized, and creative | Clear and organized | Somewhat organized | Difficult to follow |
| Teamwork | All members participate actively | Most members participate | Some members participate | Very little teamwork |
| Use of Resources | Uses resources effectively and appropriately | Uses most resources appropriately | Uses few resources | Resources are not used |
Conclusion
Through this WebQuest, you investigated how the Moon and Sun influence ocean tides. You learned the difference between high and low tides and used online resources to develop your own explanation.
Think about what you learned and answer these questions:
- What was the most interesting thing you learned about ocean tides?
- How did the online resources help you understand the topic?
- What was the most challenging part of completing the activity?
- How can understanding tides be useful in real life?
This activity shows that the Internet can be more than a source of information. When used properly, it can help students investigate, think critically, work together, and create meaningful learning products.
Teacher Page
Students may use the following resources: