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What's An Ice Core?
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/climate-change/changing-atmosphere/what-s-an-ice-core/

The American Museum of Natural History

This animation starts with a schematic illustration of glacier growth and then introduces six different methods that researchers use when studying ice cores in order to deduce the climate of the past. The research methods that are briefly introduced are ice layering, pollen, oxygen isotopes, ice crystals and gases trapped inside, and other chemistry.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

Grade Level

Upper middle with instruction and introduction to processes of science; high school understanding data collection methods

Topics

Climate Literacy

This Animation builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

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

Energy Literacy

This Animation builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.

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

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

  • Introduce relevant terminology before letting students play with the animation.
  • No worksheet goes with the animation. In order to better guide students through the animation, a worksheet would be very helpful.

About the Content

  • The initial sketch might convey a misconception that glaciers form only in depressions.
  • Scientific terms like "carbon dating" are used in the text but not explained in the animation.
  • Comments from expert scientist: The resource lacks detail and there are inconsistencies between pages on the same website.

About the Pedagogy

  • Very text-focused animation. Students can click through the different research methods and read text.
  • Short texts may not provide enough information if the student is not familiar with the paleoclimatic research method, and will need supplementary information from educator.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • The photographs that accompany the text are very small and can't be increased in size. Text font is also very small.
Entered the Collection: February 2013 | Last Reviewed: January 2025

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