Grade 8 3.2: A Drop in the Ocean

Timing: 45 min

Activity type: Experiment

 

Description:

Using intuition and scientific reasoning, students predict and explain whether ice cubes melting in a dish will raise, lower or not affect the water level after they have melted. The students will then examine records of major ice formation volumes to estimate the effect on global ocean levels if the ice formations melted entirely.

 

Expectations:

Science: 8s122, 8s123, 8s132, 8s138


 

 

 

 

Global
Water Stats
Canadian
Water Stats

 



Materials:

Teaching strategies

  1. Ask students if they know where icebergs come from: icebergs are calved from ice shelves and tidewater glaciers, they drift away and eventually melt, becoming part of the ocean. Each chunk of ice that melts affects (raises) the ocean water level by a nominal amount. Explain to the students that they will be simulating the melting of ice bergs in the ocean (distribute activity sheets to students). For more information on icebergs and shelves, visit suggested sites above.
  2. Conduct the experiment: Place a loose layer of ice on the surface of a container half-filled with water. Students will mark the initial water level on the side of the bowl (once the ice is in the bowl) with a water soluble marker. Note: This experiment could be done as a full-class demonstration or in individual groups, depending on time and material availability.
  3. Have the students predict whether the water level will rise, fall or remain at the same level. Have the students write their prediction and their reasoning for their prediction (in pen) in the appropriate spaces on the activity sheet. Have a number of students explain their predictions and use this to generate a discussion about the experiment.
  4. Allow the ice cubes to melt and monitor the water level. Once the ice cubes have melted completely, have the students record the actual observations, and compare them to their original predictions.
  5. Discuss the results of the experiment and collaborate as a class to create a scientific explanation to account for the observations.
  6. While waiting for the ice cubes to melt, students can calculate the height which the global oceans would raise if the major ice caps (Antarctic and Greenland) by using the information given on the activity sheet. Also time permitting the students will be required to write a short fictional story assuming that global warming had melted the major ice caps and raised the water level by the amount they calculated.

Extension:

View clips of the movie WaterWorld to extend the story writing aspect of this activity. Students could go further by creating a dramatic skit to demonstrate the global effects of ice melt.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Lab skills (following directions, making observations)  

Download a Word version of this lesson plan.

 

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