In class this week, we were asked to set up an experiment to demonstrate what will happen if the polar ice caps melt. I have a lot of concern when it comes to global warming and have had many discussions about it with my students. My biggest concern is not that there will be world wide flooding, but more about the effects on wildlife in these regions and long term effects on humans. We already hear about larger mammals in these areas having to search longer and farther for food supplies; penguins being found dead miles from their normal hunting grounds, polar bears starving, etc. This is so heartbreaking to me. I'm a huge animal lover and feel it is unfair to them if this truly is a result of human actions.
I was actually really excited about this week's experiment because I'm always looking for new activities for the environmental component of our curriculum. I have to say I was very disappointed with the actual experiment. I ended up doing it twice, because I thought I did it wrong the first time because I was expecting different results. Both times I did it, it took over an hour for the ice to fully melt, which would not work in my 45 minute classes. I filled the glass all the way to the top, but barely any water flooded when the ice all melted; it was more condensation on the outside of the glass and bowl. I'd like to hear about how it went for everyone else. Maybe it was too cold in my house for the ice to melt fast enough. Should I have used hot water? I was expecting more actual "flooding
Yeah I would agree. I used a small Rubbermaid container and iced like 6 ice cubes into one huge iceberg. Then I melted the iceberg in the next size container and about 5 dribbles came over the top. I took a picture...see my blog. The experiment would probably not fascinate 7th graders. :-(
ReplyDeleteI am doing my experiment tonight. Going into this I am hyothesizing that flooding will occur, but from what you ladies are saying, I might be in for a surprise. Interesting! I will let you know the results I had. Stay tuned :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Mine iceberg took a long time to melt also. I thought about using hot water too. I do not think that this experiment would be able to be done within a class period, but if possible, maybe it can be done as an assignment at home. I guess you would need good parent support and some background knowledge given to the students before they attempted it at home. Then the next day a class discussion could take place with maybe a video of the experiment in fast motion or a before and after picture to show the water did not spill over.
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