Tides

Imagine the big, blue ocean taking a long, slow breath. Whoosh. The water slides up the warm sand, tickling your toes. It whispers hello to the little sandcastles you built, giving them a gentle splash. Then, just as slowly, the water sighs and slides back out to sea, saying goodbye for a little while. This happens all day and all night, a soft and sleepy rhythm. In and out, in and out. That big, slow breath is me. I am the Ocean Tides.

I have a secret dance partner who helps me move. Up in the night sky, you can see my partner shining so bright. It’s the Moon. The Moon and I dance together every single day. The Moon gives the water a gentle tug, a little pull, and I follow along. People noticed our dance a long, long, long time ago. A very smart man with fluffy white hair named Isaac Newton figured out our secret. On a summer day, July 5th, 1687, he gave our special pull a name. He called it gravity. It’s like a secret string connecting me and the Moon, making us dance forever.

My back-and-forth dance is very helpful. When I slide away from the shore, I leave behind little puddles of water in the rocks called tide pools. Tiny crabs and colorful starfish can live there safely until I come back. When I slide back in, I lift the big boats up, up, up. I help them float gently into the harbor so they can be home. I am like the Earth’s quiet heartbeat, keeping everything moving. The next time you visit the beach, watch for my water creeping up the sand. It’s my way of waving hello to you.