LIFE’S A BEACH

Your Kid’s Beach Questions Answered

ho wants to go to the beach? This question is almost always answered with “ME!” in our family. W

My curious children, combined with multiple hours by the ocean, has led to many inquiries about their surroundings – and often (without a valid answer) they hear, “I don’t know.” I created this Q&A so, unlike me, you will have the correct response and hopefully prevent your children from wondering if you passed high school science. Besides appearing smart, you can also use this list to create a trivia game!

What makes the ocean sound when I hold a shell to my ear?

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

How are seashells made?

One common seashell is the clam. To create the shell a clam takes in salt and chemicals from the ocean and uses these materials 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 (unfortunately) discarding glass (old bottles and jars) into the ocean. Sea glass results from the glass being tossed by ocean waves and being dragged through the sand. It can take 30-50 years before the glass becomes smooth and polished.

Is sea glass worth money?

It can be. Because it rare, and old - Like gems, the value depends on several factors such as size, color, age, condition, and shape. Several social media and sale sites offer it, and some have sold for over $1,000

by Cheryl Maguire

What is the most common color of sea glass?

The most common colors of are white, green, and brown (the color of milk, soda, wine, and beer bottles).

What is the rarest color of sea glass?

The rarest colors of sea glass are red, orange, and yellow because red glass contains gold chloride (which is expensive), so not much was made. Orange and Yellow are just rare glass colors.

Are there different types of seagulls?

What most people refer to as a seagull is actually called a Herring Gull. The Herring Gull can differ in size and color depending on age. Adults are mostly white with a gray back. Gulls are scavengers and can usually be found near food. There is another type called the Great Black-backed Gull found along the coasts which looks like the Herring Gull. This is the largest gull in the world. There are currently two dozen different species of gulls living in North America.

Do seagulls have nests and lay eggs?

Yes, and often place the nest near a rock, log, or bush to protect it from predators and strong wind.

Is a starfish a fish?

The real name is a sea star and it is not a fish. Sea stars do not have fins or gills which are found on fish. This type of creature is an ‘Echinodermata’ which is in the same category as a sand dollar, sea urchin, and sea cucumbers, and can regenerate it’s limbs.

How do people know the times of low and high tides?

Creating a tide chart with times of high and low tides is not an exact science. Factors such as ocean current, winds, and the contour of the ocean bottom all influence high and low tides. The official source in the U.S. for predicting tides is the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). There are 140 tide stations that measure tide levels, wind speed, direction, water currents and directions, air and water temps, and barometric pressure. These measurements, collectively, create tidal chart times.

What causes ocean waves?

Waves are the result of winds moving over the ocean surface. The friction between the air and the water transfers energy between the air and water. The transfer of energy is what creates a wave.

How is sand on the beach created?

Sand is created mostly of quartz rocks. The rocks are broken down by wind and rain and transported to the beach by the water and waves.

What causes an ocean sandbar?

An ocean sandbar is created by waves pulling the sand from the beach further out into the ocean. When there is a storm or larger waves a sandbar can form. If there are many large waves or storms, a barrier island can form.

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, Upworthy, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings and Your Teen Magazine.