Class Time Required |
5-6 class periods |
|
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30 minutes to read through investigation and background and watch video. 30 minutes to gather materials and prepare handouts. | |
Prior Student Knowledge |
Experience in graphing data |
Vocabulary |
albedo, arctic, fluctuate, scatterplot, thermal expansion |
Science GLEs Addressed |
6th Grade: SA1.1, SA1.2, SE2.2 7th Grade: SA1.1, SA1.2, SE2.2, SG3.1 8th Grade: SA1.1, SA1.2, SA2.1, SD2.1, SE 2.2, SE3.1, SG3.1 |
This investigation has been selected as an NSF-funded Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) educational resource.
Overview: This 5-6 day investigation challenges students to think about how sea ice is changing and the effects of a warming climate on sea level in Alaska. Students begin by viewing a presentation showing a Native Alaskan talking about the importance of ice to his life and his culture. They then view a series of photos and headlines about shrinking sea ice. In Activity 1A: Arctic Sea Ice Data, students graph data on sea ice extent over time. In Activity 1B: Melting Sea Ice and Sea Level, students participate in a lab activity that simulates the melting of sea ice, and create a flip book of images of the change in sea ice extent over time. Activity 1C: Temperature and Sea Level Rise demonstrates the thermal expansion of seawater as one process that could contribute to sea level rise.