The Smith’s Beach Trip

Claire and Carlos are excited for a day at the beach with their parents. Many activities are planned, and each promises to be fun. 

They arrive early in the morning. The sun is coming up and the tide is coming in. The sun rising and the tide coming in are examples of patterns we see in nature. Together the family unpacks their truck and heads down to the beach. After several trips the family has brought toys, floats, a blanket, and food down to the beach. 

Because the sun was just rising, the water was a little cool. Claire decided it was just windy enough for kites. Dad, Carlos, and Claire run and watch as the kite flies overhead. After Dad gets the kite up in the air, Claire and Carlos take turns flying the kite.   

The sun is now directly overhead. The sun is moving in a pattern across the sky. As the sun rises, the water warms up. Finally, Carlos convinces Mom that the water is warm enough to swim. It’s still a little cool, but not too cold for swimming fun! Claire and Carlos splash and play all morning. 

At lunchtime, Mom and Dad prepare sandwiches, slice fruit, and make freshly squeezed lemonade for lunch. They yell for the children to join them, but they are having too much fun. Finally, Claire and Carlos are hungry enough to leave the water. The sandwiches hit the spot! 

Mom gives Carlos a quick lesson on throwing a spiral with a football. A spiral is another pattern. Carlos hopes to be the quarterback of his team. He needs more practice, but with each throw he improves. 

Dad and Claire have a friendly frisbee competition. The hardest part of frisbee is learning to make it spin. A spin is another pattern. Dad has mastered the frisbee spin, but Claire needs a little more practice. 

Carlos and Claire return to the water for one last swim before the sun sets and the tide goes out. The temperature of the water is even cooler now, but they still enjoy floating.  

The sun cycles through a pattern each day-rising, moving overhead, and finally setting. The tides come in and out. The temperature gets warmer, then cooler. 

Claire and Carlos had a great day at the beach with their family. They cannot wait to return and hope they can bring friends next time. The day was filled with football, frisbee, swimming, and fun!