AIR &
climate change
Activity 3 (Explore): Why Are Sea Levels Rising?
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Activity Summary
In this activity, students design and run experiments to determine whether sea ice or land ice is having a bigger effect on sea level rise. They then use this information to draw conclusions about which is more responsible for the sunny day flooding from their original phenomenon.
Source: This activity is based on NASA’s What’s Causing Sea-Level Rise? Land Ice vs. Sea Ice.
For additional photos and tips on the experiment, check out their website.
Activity Objectives & Materials
Approximate Time: 1-2 class periods (60-90 minutes)
Objective:
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Students will design and conduct experiments to determine the effect of melting land and sea ice on sea level change.
Materials (see activity for details on these materials)
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Computer & projector
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Ice, Water, Measuring cups, Containers, Rulers, Clay or other materials to make “land”
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Scale (optional to weigh ice)
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Heat lamp (optional)
Handouts:
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What is Causing the Ocean to Rise?
Standards Connection
Warm-up
1. Frame the Activity
2. Where is the Water Coming From?
3. Land Ice vs. Sea Ice
4. Design the Experiment
5. Variables, Controls, and Data Gathering
6. Write a Hypothesis
7. Build the Setups
8. Run the Experiment
9. Data Analysis
10. Sensemaking Discussion
11. Check In With Questions
12. Conclusions (Formative Assessment)