Waves and tides
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what waves and tides are and I can identify and describe different types of waves.
Key learning points
- Waves are powered by the wind and tides are controlled by the gravitational pull between the moon and Earth.
- The stretch of open water over which the wind blows is called the fetch.
- Constructive waves have a powerful swash and a weaker backwash.
- Destructive waves have a powerful backwash and a weaker swash.
Keywords
Waves - the movement of energy across water
Tides - the regular rise and fall of sea levels caused by the Moon’s and Sun’s gravity pulling on Earth’s oceans
Wind - natural movement of the air
Fetch - the distance over water that wind blows, which affects the size and energy of waves
Common misconception
That waves and tides are the same thing, or that tides are the cause of waves, or that wind causes both waves and tides.
Waves are caused by the wind blowing across the sea, not by the tide. The tide is the regular rise and fall of the sea level regardless of whether there are waves or if the sea is calm.
Teacher tip
Be careful with swash and backwash - students will often say 'backswash' by putting the two terms together. Highlight and correct this straight away if it does happen, even if you have to do so multiple times, this should ensure the mistake doesn't become embedded.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the force by which a planet, or other large body, draws objects to its centre?
Q2.Which kind of weather will make the largest waves?
Q3.Tides are caused by ...
Q4.Put the definition of high and low tides in the right order.
Q5.Waves can travel long distances, this is called the fetch. The greater the fetch, the __________ the wave will be.
Q6.Match the key term with its definition.
the wearing away of rock
the movement of material by the sea
when waves lose their energy and drop the sediment they were carrying
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1. are caused by wind.
Q2. are caused by the gravitational pull of the mood.
Q3.The distance a wave travels is called the ...
Q4.Match the term with its definition:
movements of sea water caused by wind
seawater moving up a beach towards the land
seawater moving down a beach towards the sea
a strong swash and weaker backwash to build up the beach
a strong backwash and weaker swash to erode the beach
To help you plan your 7 geography lesson on: Waves and tides, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 geography lesson on: Waves and tides, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Coasts: what shapes life at the coast? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.