Explaining Daily Tides

This short-answer science worksheet supports students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 as they explain why ocean tides change throughout the day. Through five guided questions, students practice scientific reasoning, reading comprehension, and clear written explanation as they analyze how Earth’s rotation, the Moon’s orbit, and the combined gravitational effects of the Moon and Sun create predictable tidal patterns.

Learning Goals

• Tidal Cycles (Grades 5-7) – Explain daily and monthly changes in tides using scientific concepts
• Earth-Moon-Sun Interactions – Describe how gravitational forces work together to affect ocean movement
• Scientific Writing – Respond in complete sentences using accurate vocabulary and clear explanations
• Critical Thinking – Analyze continuous natural processes rather than isolated events

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with Earth and space science and ELA standards
• Short-Answer Format – Encourages students to explain ideas in their own words
• Concept-Focused Questions – Reinforces understanding of dynamic tidal systems
• Flexible Use – Ideal for science units, formative assessment, review, or homeschool instruction

This tides explanation worksheet helps students strengthen conceptual understanding and written communication through focused scientific questioning. By explaining why tides change daily, learners develop deeper insight into Earth-Moon-Sun relationships and improve their ability to communicate scientific ideas clearly. It’s a no-prep resource for both classroom and homeschool settings that supports scientific literacy, reasoning, and explanatory writing skills.

This worksheet is part of our Tides and Their Relation to the Moon collection.