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What Is a Tide

Interactive passage with audio narration, comprehension questions, and printable PDF.

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Format: Interactive (Online), Printable (PDF)
Grades: 5678
Subjects: scienceela
Standards: MS-ESS1-2
Languages: English, Spanish

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What's included

Reading passage

Reading comprehension

Audio narration

With word word highlighting

Comprehension quiz

Auto-graded

Writing activity

Open-ended response

Glossary & flashcards

Vocabulary practice

Differentiated version

Adapted for varied levels

Spanish translation

Bilingual support

About this reader

This informational science passage introduces middle school students (grades 6-8) to the concept of tides. Aligned with NGSS standard MS-ESS1-2 and disciplinary core idea MS-ESS1.B, the passage defines tides as the regular rise and fall of ocean water along coastlines. Students explore how gravitational pull from the Moon and Sun creates high and low tides twice each day. The passage includes real-world examples from the Bay of Fundy in Canada, where tides can reach 50 feet. Key vocabulary terms include tide, high tide, low tide, gravitational pull, coastline, inland sea, tidal range, and bulge. The content features audio integration for enhanced accessibility and learning support. Activities include multiple-choice questions, writing prompts, and graphic organizers that help students analyze cause-and-effect relationships and compare different aspects of tides. This comprehensive resource supports science literacy development while building understanding of Earth-Moon-Sun system interactions.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

Sample passage and quiz content

CONTENT PREVIEW

A stunning aerial view highlighting the meeting of rocky terrain and ocean waves along a sandy shore. — A tide is the regular rise and fall of ocean water along coastlines. Image by Ollie Craig / Pexels.

A tide is the regular rise and fall of ocean water along coastlines. Twice each day, water moves up the shore during high tide. Then it moves back down during low tide. This pattern repeats in a predictable cycle. Tides occur in lakes and inland seas too, but ocean tides are the largest and most noticeable.

Scientists explain that tides happen because of gravitational pull from the Moon and Sun. The Moon is much closer to Earth than the Sun. Evidence shows that the Moon's gravity has a stronger effect on ocean water. As the Moon orbits Earth, its gravity pulls on the water. This creates a bulge of water on the side of Earth facing the Moon. Another bulge forms on the opposite side of Earth. These bulges are high tides. Between the bulges, water levels drop, creating low tides. The Sun also pulls on Earth's oceans, but its effect is smaller. When the Sun and Moon align, their combined pull creates especially high and low tides.

The tidal range is the difference between high and low tide levels. This range varies by location. The Bay of Fundy in Canada has some of the world's highest tides. Water levels there can change by more than 50 feet between high and low tide. Scientists observe that the shape of the coastline and ocean floor affects tidal range. Narrow bays and channels can amplify tides. Open coastlines may have smaller tidal ranges.

Understanding tides matters for many reasons. Coastal communities plan activities around tide schedules. Fishermen use tide charts to find the best fishing times. Ships need high tide to enter shallow harbors safely. Marine animals and plants adapt their life cycles to tidal patterns. Tide predictions help people stay safe near the ocean. Scientists study tides to better understand the Earth-Moon-Sun system and how these bodies interact.

Interesting Fact: Earth's rotation is gradually slowing down because of tidal forces. The Moon is moving about 1.5 inches farther from Earth each year.

What is a tide?

The regular rise and fall of ocean water along coastlinesA type of ocean wave caused by windThe movement of fish in the oceanThe temperature change in ocean water

How many times does high tide occur each day?

OnceTwiceThree timesFour times

What does 'gravitational pull' mean in the passage?

The force that pushes objects apartThe force that pulls objects toward each otherThe speed at which water movesThe temperature of ocean water

What is 'tidal range'?

The distance between two coastlinesThe area where tides occurThe difference between high tide and low tide levelsThe time between two high tides

Why does the Moon have a stronger effect on tides than the Sun?

The Moon is larger than the SunThe Moon is much closer to Earth than the SunThe Moon moves faster than the SunThe Moon is made of water

Based on the passage, what can you infer about the Bay of Fundy's coastline?

It is completely flat with no featuresIts shape and features help create very high tidesIt has no connection to the oceanIt never experiences low tide

If a ship captain needs to enter a shallow harbor, when should they plan to arrive?

During low tide when water is lowestDuring high tide when water is highestOnly at midnightWhen the Moon is not visible

What happens when the Sun and Moon align?

Tides stop occurringOnly low tides occurTheir combined pull creates especially high and low tidesThe ocean water disappears

True or False: Tides only occur in oceans, not in lakes or inland seas.

TrueFalse

True or False: The shape of the coastline and ocean floor can affect the tidal range.

TrueFalse