Science·Ocean Life·conceptual
Tides, Waves & Currents
Know that the ocean has tides (water level rises and falls twice a day, caused mainly by the Moon's gravity), waves (caused by wind), and currents (rivers of water flowing through the ocean that carry warmth and nutrients around the world)
Suggested ages 7–9
Learning journey
Your child is diving deeper into ocean science — learning how sea creatures are classified, understanding complex ocean food webs, and exploring the different zones and features of our vast oceans.
Evidence of understanding
- Describe tides as the regular rise and fall of water level, caused by the Moon's gravity
- Explain that waves are caused by wind blowing across the water surface
- Describe ocean currents as large flows of water that carry heat and nutrients around the globe
Assessment prompt
If Tides, Waves & Currents noticed the water level changing at the beach during the day, could they explain that tides are caused by the Moon's pull, and that the ocean also has waves from wind and currents that flow like underwater rivers?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.