Melting Icebergs Experiment – Week 3&4 (SCIE-6660)

With the dawning of the Industrial age practices began to alter the global climate and environment. Before that time, human activity didn’t release many greenhouse gases. With the onslaught of population, deforestation, factory farming, and the use of fossil fuels humans are creating an excess of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and contributing to global warming. How long we have till the polar icecaps melt has been a commonly discussed question. In recent years estimates ranged from the years 2030 to as early as 2013. Noting that in 2007 the Norwegian ice sheet had reached a historical low of 3m sq. km in the summer. Other questions of concern are the effects of an increase in the amount of fresh water to salt water. Will the fresh water increase cause changes in ocean currents which will in turn cause a change in climate? Will the melting of the glaciers found on land cause flooding?

Have you ever had a very full glass of something cool to drink with ice floating at the surface? As the ice melted into the drink did the contents overflow? That concept fuels the concern about the polar icecaps melting. The increase in the water level should cause flooding in low lying countries as well as along the coastline of the U.S.A., what then? This water that was frozen on land will melt into the oceans forcing water levels to rise, just like in our glass. If you fill a glass with ice then pour water into the glass until it is full but not overflowing you will notice some ice floating above the water line. As that ice begins to melt the contents will overflow due to lack of space inside the glass. The ice on land will act the same way as it melts. Once the extra water is added to our oceans it will overflow onto the land surfaces.

These ideas are all centered on the theory of global warming. I believe that it is not possible for humans to live on the planet without having an impact. I can’t believe that with all of the construction, farming, and deforestation, to mention a few, that an adverse effect on Earth wouldn’t be possible. Why are the glaciers and polar icecaps melting? Why are we experiencing more extreme weather events around the world? 

 

References

Via ::Xinhua: Expert: Arctic polar cap may disappear this summer (news website)

The Melting of Our Polar Icecaps

As I mull over the repercussions of our Polar Icecaps melting I immediately reminisce the time I spent in class with my students teaching about Environmental Science. It was 2006 and the former Vice President Al Gore had released his documentary An Inconvenient Truth. I remember watching the movie with my classes and having some very deep conversations with my students, which is rare for 8th graders. The movie addressed the impact that melting icecaps would have on the world as a whole. It described the loss of land due to the rise of ocean levels. It made clear the impact on humanity by such a drastic loss of inhabitable living space. The students expressed their concern and fear for their future should such a dramatic event take place in their lifetime. Questions from them about where will the people go, where will we get our food from were among many they expressed.

These are the types of learning experiences teachers seek in their classrooms. Finding a question or event that leads students into their own journey for answers is the basis of inquiry. As a seasoned science teacher I look for topics and lessons that cause my students to ask questions. I want them to have the desire to learn. I still present information in my classroom in a manner that allows my students to come up with questions of their own and then be able to seek the answers. Authentic assessments drive student to learn and allow them to seek information that interests them. Students then become vested in their learning and that gives their education value.   

STEM Strategies Lesson Plan I not sure I will ever use this method to write future lesson plans. I did like how much this method requires you to evaluate the effectiveness of your lesson. The Five E's (Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, Evaluation) are a great way to prepare for a lesson. They are useful in organizing your thoughts during lesson set up. I think it's too much to use on a regular basis. I can’t imagine writing a lesson plan like this on a regularly. The plan I used for this assignment was one that I have used in the past. It is a successful lesson my students are definitely highly engaged and motivated. The use of technology is engaging and creative, the students relish the idea of choosing how they learn. The students seemed to be interested in the information and the creative application of their research. Objectives as a whole were met and mastered. The use of technology is an immediate success for most students as it gains their interest. When I make changes for next year I will provide a preselected list of volcanoes and earthquakes, there are too many for the students to choose from.

STEM Strategies Lesson Plan

I not sure I will ever use this method to write future lesson plans. I did like how much this method requires you to evaluate the effectiveness of your lesson. The Five E's (Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, Evaluation) are a great way to prepare for a lesson. They are useful in organizing your thoughts during lesson set up. I think it's too much to use on a regular basis. I can’t imagine writing a lesson plan like this on a regularly.

The plan I used for this assignment was one that I have used in the past. It is a successful lesson my students are definitely highly engaged and motivated. The use of technology is engaging and creative, the students relish the idea of choosing how they learn. The students seemed to be interested in the information and the creative application of their research. Objectives as a whole were met and mastered.  The use of technology is an immediate success for most students as it gains their interest. When I make changes for next year I will provide a preselected list of volcanoes and earthquakes, there are too many for the students to choose from.