---
title: "Tides, Waves & Currents"
description: "Know that tides are regular rises and falls in sea level caused mainly by the Moon's gravity, with the Sun contributing. Many coasts have roughly two high tides per day, while some have one. Wind make"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/tides-waves-and-currents-mt_kCSy3Lsgme
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/tides-waves-and-currents-mt_kCSy3Lsgme.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Tides, Waves & Currents

Know that tides are regular rises and falls in sea level caused mainly by the Moon's gravity, with the Sun contributing. Many coasts have roughly two high tides per day, while some have one. Wind makes most familiar surface waves. Currents move water and carry heat and nutrients; tides and wind can both drive currents.

Subject: Science · Area: Ocean Life · Ages 7 to 9
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/tides-waves-and-currents-mt_kCSy3Lsgme

## Ready when they can

- Describe tides as the regular rise and fall of sea level, caused mainly by the Moon's gravity with a contribution from the Sun
- Explain that wind blowing across the water makes most familiar surface waves
- Describe ocean currents as large flows of water that carry heat and nutrients around the globe

## Lesson: Tides, Waves & Currents

The ocean never sits still. Water moves in three big ways: tides, waves, and currents. They can overlap, and one can help cause another. Tides are the slow rise and fall of the sea. The Moon's gravity pulls the water while Earth turns, and the Sun pulls a little too. Many coasts get about two high tides a day, and some get only one.

*(drawing: Water height on a tide pole at one example shore, marked 0 to 10. It climbs to a high tide, then drops to a low one.)*

**Example.** At the beach, Priya feels a strong wind blowing across the water. She watches waves roll in and crash on the sand. The wind is pushing the water into waves.

Ocean currents are like giant rivers flowing inside the ocean. Some carry warm water toward colder places, and some carry cold water toward warmer ones. They also carry nutrients, dissolved food for ocean plants and tiny animals. Wind drives many currents, and rising and falling tides drive others.

**Tip.** Remember it this way: tides move up and down, wind pushes up most surface waves, and currents flow like rivers across the ocean.

**Recap.** Tides rise and fall mainly from the Moon's pull, wind makes most surface waves, and currents move water, heat and nutrients around the world.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Coasts & Beaches](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/coasts-and-beaches-mt_4bJiGiMPmy)
- [What Is the Ocean?](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/what-is-the-ocean-mt_oAg79ju344)

## Opens up

- [Oceans & Climate](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/oceans-and-climate-mt_KRNU0IOKfO)