1. “I’m Melting, I’m Melting!”
Understanding Changes in Glaciers Over Time
EARTH 2017 Lesson by Kristina Hayda, Cathy McBride, Patrick Murray, and Stacey Sebert
(adapted from activities by Dr. Ellyn Enderlin)

2. Next Generation Science Standards
MS-ESS 2-1: Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth's materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.
HS-ESS3-5: Earth and Human Activity
Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth systems.

3. Science Practices Developing and using models
Analyzing and interpreting data
Planning and carrying out investigations
Using mathematics and computational thinking
Constructing explanations
Engaging in argument from evidence

4. Student Objectives
Develop and use a model of how glaciers are affected by changing environmental conditions (temperature, snowfall, topography, etc.) through lab activities
Analyze and interpret data to determine change in glacial extent over time
Use data and evidence to identify and explain differences between ice forms
Recognize and explain that glaciers can be found throughout the world- even at the equator
Explain the relationship between Earth’s climate and ice forms.
Identify factors that influence the rate of glacial melt (temperature, ablation, etc.)

5. NGSS Crosscutting Concepts
Patterns
Cause and Effect
Systems and System Models
Energy and Matter
Stability and Change

6. Engagement: Lesson Introduction
Ice Age video clip (approximately 1 minute)
Ice Cube Demonstration with discussion of student observations

7. Exploration
Flubber Lab: Students create a physical model of glacier to investigate variables affecting rate of glacial change
Students record responses to questions using data collected from activity
Students conduct webquest to research background information on glaciers

8. Explanation
Using data provided in Google Sheets file (USGS data), students generate graphs to analyze change in glacial extent over time at various locations

9. Elaboration
Students use a simulation to deepen their understanding of factors affecting glacial movement
Students manipulate variables to investigate responses of glaciers to changes throughout simulation, and respond to questions throughout activity

10. Understanding How Glaciers Change Over Time
WebQuest - Why does ice matter?
Glacier fundamentals
Glacier mechanics
Data Sources
Erosion
Graphing Data
Select some data on a particular glacier
Make a graph
Hands-on Activity
Can you even Flubber?
PhET simulation

11. Understanding How Glaciers Change Over Time
WebQuest - Why does ice matter?
Glacier fundamentals
Glacier Formation
Glacier Types
Glacier Locations
Glacier mechanics
Linear Movement
Internal Structural Changes
Melting
Sublimation
Data Sources
Satellite Data -LandSat 8
Direct Observation
Importance to Earth’s Climate
Glacier Melt Pushes salt water down in the ocean
Alters Earth’s THC (Thermo Haline Circulation)
Most visible evidence of Climate Change
Courtesy of discoverykids.com

12. Understanding How Glaciers Change Over Time
Graphing Data
Select some data on a particular glacier
Examine a particular glacier and look at its data more closely
Make a graph by hand or automated tool
Identify dependent and independent variables
Actually plot data
Find rates of area change
Find the rates of the rate of area change
Compare data to that of a classmate.
Identify similarities and differences

13. Understanding How Glaciers Change Over Time
Hands-on Activity
Can you even Flubber?
Make a substance demonstrating relative flow rates within a glacier.
Actually watch the material redistribute itself within its structure
PhET simulation
See how temperature and precipitation alters glacier mechanics
Courtesy of
Courtesy of AntarcticGlaciers.org

14. Evaluate
Given two images, students will use their experiences in the Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, and Elaboration to identify whether the images given are glaciers or some other ice form. Students will proceed to support their reasoning via the CER method.