Is Ice, Ice Baby?
Provided by: ACE|Published on: March 30, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: ACE
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This hands-on activity helps students understand the difference between the melting of land-based ice versus the melting of sea ice.
- Students will watch two brief videos, conduct an experiment, make observations, collect and analyze their data, and reflect on the results.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource includes a student worksheet and teacher guide that are available as a PDF or Google Document.
- The lesson includes detailed instructions for the experiment and provides options for small group work.
Additional Prerequisites
- The teacher should prepare the materials for the experiment in advance.
- Teachers need to make a free account to access the materials.
Differentiation
- This lesson could be completed in groups of 2 or more.
- The questions on the Google Document of the student worksheet can be adjusted to ensure all students are challenged to work at their level.
- Advanced science classes could discuss the global effects of melting sea ice (darker water vs. bright sea ice), including the change in the albedo effect and the thermal expansion of water as it warms. Students could hypothesize how much of an effect melting sea ice could have, given these parameters.
- Other resources related to this topic include this experiment about the thermal expansion of water, this animated graph and map of Greenland's ice sheet over time, and this interactive resource from MIT.
The concept of sea ice and melting ice on land is simplified in this resource. This resource is recommended.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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