Teaching Tips

• The topic is rigorously covered if couched in the "All About Ice" curriculum for younger audiences, with multiple pages of a journal that the students fill out. This experiment would work well after all of the other activities.
• The Investigation Journal can be used to review or front load information of gasses, solids, and liquids. The journal will need to be modified for young learners who can not write yet.
• Younger students will have a very hard time not touching their Flubber as it deforms throughout the lesson. After they have played with the Flubber, have them place it in a spot that is temporarily out of reach.
• Glacier photos are a bit outdated. Teachers may want to identify newer photos of glaciers to share with the students.

About the Content

• This activity does an excellent job of guiding students through the scientific process to learn about how ice flows over time and the basics of how glaciers move.
• Students make Flubber and observe it as it flows down a decline. Then they learn how the Flubber represents the movement of a glacier.
• Digitally available data and background material on the state of earth's water comes from the Lunar and Planetary Institute.
• Comments from expert scientist:
  Scientific Strengths: Very interactive resource with many opportunities for learners to handle, observe, and modify the physical model they construct. There is also a lot of scientific detail included so that educators can give addition information based on the responses and interests of learners.
  Suggestion: While there are references for all images used, the scientific information itself does not include sources. All of it seemed accurate , so this isn't a big concern for this resource.

About the Pedagogy

• Students engage in a hands-on activity to learn about glacier flow.
• The learning outcome is focused on students understanding the states of matter of water, and that ice can flow over time even though it is a solid.
• The pictures and discussion of actual glaciers in Antarctica is helpful to give a greater understanding of ice flow.
• The lesson and journal are logically organized.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

• This activity is free, easily accessible, and ready for teachers to use.
• Pg. 6 of 6 In the Amundsen Scott South Pole Station Pictures is blank.

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