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What's Causing Sea-Level Rise? Land Ice Vs. Sea Ice
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/whats-causing-sea-level-rise-land-ice-vs-sea-ice/

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California institute of Technology, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

This activity allows students to explore sea level rise. The experiment allows them to test whether land ice and/or sea ice contribute to sea level rise as they melt.

This learning activity takes one 45 minute class period.

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Climate Literacy

This Short Demonstration/Experiment builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

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Energy Literacy

This Short Demonstration/Experiment builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.

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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

  • This would be a good lab activity to introduce the topic of sea level rise.
  • Unless in a self-contained classroom setting, it would be advisable to have an external heating source or be able to conduct this activity outdoors.
  • The time of the activity depends, since students literally measure the rate of ambient ice melt. If students only meet for a single class period, the activity does say it is okay to use an external heat source to accelerate the ice melt.

About the Content

  • Addresses sea vs land ice melt. Background information with links provided. Little rigor since students are literally recording the rate of ice melt.
  • Comments from expert scientist:
  • Scientific strengths: This is a very great way to differentiate between land and sea ice. The data sheet is great.
  • Suggestions: I think it would add value to show a map of the land vs. sea ice on our planet. And I think for grades 6-8 it should be required that they plot results on an x-y graph for both land and sea ice.
  • Concerns: My only concern is that the clay material should be dense enough so as not to "soak up" too much of the water.

About the Pedagogy

  • Students use clay, water, and ice to demonstrate the difference between melting land ice and melting sea ice on sea level rise. The activity is straightforward and would be a good group-based lab experiment.
  • The activity can be either in small groups or teacher led-demonstration. The activity cautions that if done without an external heating device it could take a very long time for the ice to melt. No prerequisites are necessary and background information is provided, including step-by-step pictures. Students are asked to predict outcomes of the activity and to take measurements (volume/time). Direct questioning is stated as well as extensions.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • Some of the instructions need to be followed carefully so that the ice remains on the clay. But the resource gives detailed instructions, so it should be a fairly straightforward activity.
  • No technology required. Student generated data collection from observations and measurements made during throughout the activity. Background information is provided with additional resources.
Entered the Collection: November 2019 Last Reviewed: June 2019

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