is a starfish a fish? (Is a starfish even a starfish?)

Your Kids Beach Questions Answered

By Cheryl Maguire

If your family is anything like mine, the question, “Who wants to go to the beach?” is usually met with a chorus of “MEEEEE”s!

Spending quality time at the ocean with my curious children has led to many inquiries. So often I haven’t known the answers that my daughter actually said to me, “Do you know anything about the beach and ocean?”

I created this Q&A so that — unlike me — you will know the correct answers and your children won’t be wondering if you passed high school science. Besides helping you appear smart to your children, you can also use this list to create a trivia game.

Why does it sound like the ocean when you hold a shell to your ear?

It’s actually the sound of your own ear fluid being echoed back to you.

How are seashells made? One common seashell is the clam shell. To create the shell, clams take in salt and chemicals from the ocean water and use them to produce calcium carbonate, which is secreted on the outside of their bodies and hardens to create a shell.

How is sea glass made? Sea glass is the result of people discarding glass into the ocean. It can take decades for the glass to become smooth. This process is a result of the glass being tossed around by the ocean waves and being dragged against the sand.

Is sea glass worth money?

It can be. As with fine gems, it depends on factors such as shape and color. One piece of sea glass has sold for more than $1,000.

What are the most common colors of sea glass? White, green and brown. What are the rarest sea glass colors? Red, orange and yellow.

Are there different types of seagulls?

Yes. Two dozen species of gulls live in North America. What most people think of as a seagull is actually called a Herring Gull. The Herring Gull varies in size and color, depending on age: baby Herring Gulls are brown, while adults are mostly white with a gray back. They are scavengers and usually found near food. The Great Black-Backed Gull — the largest gull in the world — looks like the Herring Gull, but is found along coasts.

How can seagulls drink ocean water?

Seagulls have special glands in their eyes that allow them to excrete the salt.

Do seagulls build nests and lay eggs?

Yes. They often build their nests near rocks, logs or bushes to protect them from predators and strong winds.

Is a starfish a fish? It is actually called a sea star, not a starfish. Sea stars do not have fins or gills like fish. This type of sea creature is an Echinodermata, which is in the same genus as a sand dollars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Sea stars can regenerate an arm. Why do the tides change? Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon, as well as the Earth’s rotation.

How do people know the times of high and low tides? Charting the times of high and low tide is not an exact science. Factors such as ocean current, winds, and the contour of the ocean bottom can influence what time high and low tides occur.

The official source in the United States for predicting tides is the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS).

One-hundred-and forty tide stations measure tide levels; wind speed and direction; water curent speed and direction; air and water temperatures; and barometric pressure. These measurements collected together create tidal chart times.

What causes ocean waves?

Waves are the result of winds moving over the ocean surface. The friction between the air