Melting ice caps and glaciers (non statutory - Climate Change & Sustainability) | Science

Starter quiz

In what state is water at temperatures below 0°C?
- 'solid' ✓
Where is the North pole?
- at the top of Earth ✓
- in the middle of Earth
- all around Earth
- at the bottom of the Earth
In which of these temperature ranges is water in the liquid state?
- -10°C - 0°C
- 0°C - 100°C ✓
- 100°C - 150°C
______ is when a substance changes from a solid state to a liquid state.
- 'Melting' ✓
Which of these are names given to water in its solid state?
- snow ✓
- ice cream
- ice ✓
- vapour
- steam
How has Earth’s climate been changing in recent years?
- It has been getting colder
- It has been getting louder.
- It has been getting warmer. ✓
- It has been getting more popular.

Exit quiz

How has the world’s temperature changed in the last 50 years?
- It has decreased.
- It has not changed.
- It has increased. ✓
Where are ice caps and glaciers mostly found?
- In the east and west regions.
- Around the centre of Earth
- At the North and South Poles. ✓
Ice caps and glaciers are found in the __________ parts of the world.
- wettest
- coldest ✓
- hottest
Ice caps and glaciers have begun to ______ as the world has warmed up in the last 50 years.
- 'melt' ✓
What do ice caps and glaciers help regulate?
- Earth’s rotation
- Earth’s mass
- Earth’s sea levels ✓
- Earth’s temperature ✓
What happens to sea level when ice caps and glacier’s melt?
- It goes down.
- It rises. ✓
- It is unchanged.

Worksheet

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Presentation

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Ice caps and glaciers are found in the coldest parts of the world, and mostly at the North and South Poles.
Ice caps and glaciers are melting as the world has warmed up a lot in the last 50 years.
Ice caps and glaciers play important roles in regulating Earth’s sea levels and temperature.
When ice caps and glaciers melt, sea levels rise.

Common misconception

Children may not have heard of glaciers and may think that the only year-round ice is at the poles. Melting ice caps and glaciers do not affect sea level.

Teaching slides introduce ice caps and glaciers and note that they are found all over the world. The effect of melting ice caps and glaciers on sea level is explained and children have a chance to model it.

Keywords

Ice cap - An ice cap is a thick layer of ice that permanently covers an area of land.
Glacier - A glacier is a slow moving river of ice that covers an area of land.
Melting - Melting is when a substance changes from a solid state to a liquid state.
Sea level - Sea level is the position on land that sea reaches.