Give your students a hands-on glacier lesson with this chilly activity that originally appeared on sciencekit.com.
Materials Needed:
- 2 Paper Cups
- Water
- Aluminum Foil
- 2 Tbsp. Coarse Sand
- Paper Towels
Instructions:
- Label one cup A and the other B. Place two spoonfuls of coarse sand in Cup B. Fill both cups with water and freeze until they are solid.
- Remove the ice from Cup A. Using a paper towel to hold the ice, rub the “bottom end” of the ice along the aluminum foil (the foil represents the surface of the Earth). Record your observations and repeat for Cup B.
- Have students compare their observations. How did they differ? Have students write in their journals how they think the rocks and other debris in a glacier change the surface of the earth.
- Extension Activity: Have students place their ice from Cup B in the center of the aluminum foil. After the ice has melted, ask students to explain what they think this process represents.
