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How Does Melting Ice Affect Sea Level?
https://d32ogoqmya1dw8.cloudfront.net/files/nesta/howdoesmeltingiceaffectseal.pdf.pdf

LuAnn Dahlman, ANDRILL

Students investigate how sea levels might rise when ice sheets and ice caps melt. By constructing a pair of models, students can observe the effects of ice melt in two different situations.

Activity takes one hour. Additional materials required.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»


Climate Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines

2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.1 The Earth as a Physical System:A) Processes that shape the Earth
Other materials addressing:
A) Processes that shape the Earth.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.3 Humans and Their Societies:D) Global Connections
Other materials addressing:
D) Global Connections.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

About the Content

  • Activity effectively models difference between melting sea ice vs land ice.
  • Comments from expert scientist: This activity shows that ice melting on land will raise sea level and that sea ice melting will not raise sea level. Good for the elementary school level.

About the Pedagogy

  • The illustrated directions for students are exceptionally well done and each step is accompanied by excellent images to guide students.
  • An excellent use of models to illustrate how scientists determine past climate history.
  • Students should use their markers to predict the increase of water in each box before the ice melts.
  • Students present results to visitors in a kind of science exhibit/presentation format.
  • Learning objectives listed in Leader Notes.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

Entered the Collection: January 2013 Last Reviewed: November 2016

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