Racing to the Beach

Introduction

Spring Break is quickly approaching so you need to make your plans. Your family is planning a trip to the ultimate Spring Break destination -- Daytona Beach, Florida. Your family wants to make sure you are at the beach during the prime sun and surf times and still have time to visit the Speedway. Remember that the best times to surf are when the tides are the highest!!

 

Task

You are going to research the moon and how it will affect the tides down at the beach. In order to plan your time at the beach, you need to know:

 

What are tides? What is the difference between high and low tides? What is the difference between spring tides and neap tides?

After you know the answer to each of the questions above, you will need to collect the following information: (This information should be from the year 2002).

• a record of tide levels for the month of March at Daytona Beach, FL
• a calendar of the phases of the moon for the month of March

With the information you've collected you will need to complete the spreadsheet you have been given to plan your trip.

You will also need to explain any type of pattern that you can identify between the moon and the tides.

If there is a pattern between the moon and tides, what is causing this pattern to occur.

 

Process

Now that you and your partner have read the handout concerning tides at home. You can get started on planning your trip.

• Step One: Answer the first two questions on the worksheet. Use the handout from yesterday or go to The Tides to help you answer these questions.

Now that you have a better understanding of tides, you can start planning your vacation activities.

• Step Two: Complete the table on the back of the worksheet. To find out about high and low tides by going to Tides of Daytona. Copy the data relating to the tides for the month of March onto your table.
• Step Three: Go to Moon over Daytona and copy the data concerning each of the phases of the Moon onto your table. There will not be phases of the moon for all days of the month.
• Step Four: Using the information from the table, complete your vacation plans on the worksheet.

Evaluation

You and your partner will complete the table and worksheet for a group grade. Grades will be based on the accurate completion of the table. Additionally, your responses to the questions on the worksheet and your reasoning for the given answers will determine your successful completion of your spring break plans.

 

Download Worksheets

tidewkst

tidestable