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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 60 minutes

Frozen water on Earth: glaciers, ice sheets and icebergs

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.2-ESS2-3England: KS1 Geography linksEngland: KS2 Y4 States of matter

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Frozen water on Earth: glaciers, ice sheets and icebergs.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this salt water or fresh water: the Mediterranean Sea? (salt water / fresh water) → salt waterPrompt: Is it part of the sea, or does it come from rain, snow and rivers?
  2. Why is it important to save fresh water? (Only a tiny part of Earth's water is fresh and easy to reach. / Fresh water is the same as seawater. / There is more fresh water than salt water. / Plants do not need water.) → Only a tiny part of Earth's water is fresh and easy to reach.Prompt: Most water is salty or frozen.
  3. True or false? Glaciers are made of salt water. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Oceans are salty. Where else is water found?

Hook · 6 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Frozen water on Earth: glaciers, ice sheets and icebergs. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which description matches a glacier?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: a huge river of ice that slowly slides downhill
  • Answer: a huge river of ice that slowly slides downhill
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which description matches frost? (thin ice crystals that form on cold surfaces overnight / ice that covers a whole land area, like Antarctica / a big piece of ice floating in the sea after breaking off a glacier / a huge river of ice that slowly slides downhill) → thin ice crystals that form on cold surfaces overnightPrompt: Think about where each one is found and how big it is.
  2. Glaciers in the Alps and the Rockies are shrinking. What is the main reason? (People are taking the ice home. / The mountains are growing. / It is snowing too much. / Earth's climate is getting warmer.) → Earth's climate is getting warmer.Prompt: What does warmth do to ice?

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Why does most of an iceberg stay hidden under the water? (Fish hold it down. / Ice sinks to the bottom. / Ice is only a little lighter than water, so it floats low. / Icebergs are shy.) → Ice is only a little lighter than water, so it floats low.Prompt: Try floating an ice cube in a glass. How much sticks out?
  2. True or false? Icebergs are made of frozen seawater. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Ice is solid water. Where does glacier ice come from?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is.
  • Use concrete materials: rock samples.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Frozen water on Earth: glaciers, ice sheets and icebergs

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Why do towns near glaciers care if the glaciers melt away?

    • A. Glacier meltwater fills their rivers in summer.
    • B. Glaciers make the towns bigger.
    • C. Glaciers keep the towns warm.
    • D. They do not care at all.

  2. Question 2

    True or false? Glaciers move very slowly downhill.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    Which description matches a glacier?

    • A. a layer of frozen seawater on the ocean surface
    • B. a big piece of ice floating in the sea after breaking off a glacier
    • C. a huge river of ice that slowly slides downhill
    • D. ice that covers a whole land area, like Antarctica

  4. Question 4

    Which description matches frost?

    • A. thin ice crystals that form on cold surfaces overnight
    • B. ice that covers a whole land area, like Antarctica
    • C. a huge river of ice that slowly slides downhill
    • D. a layer of frozen seawater on the ocean surface

  5. Question 5

    Why does most of an iceberg stay hidden under the water?

    • A. Icebergs are shy.
    • B. Fish hold it down.
    • C. Ice sinks to the bottom.
    • D. Ice is only a little lighter than water, so it floats low.

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Icebergs are made of frozen seawater.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

    Which description matches sea ice?

    • A. ice that covers a whole land area, like Antarctica
    • B. a huge river of ice that slowly slides downhill
    • C. a layer of frozen seawater on the ocean surface
    • D. thin ice crystals that form on cold surfaces overnight

  8. Question 8

    Glaciers in the Alps and the Rockies are shrinking. What is the main reason?

    • A. The mountains are growing.
    • B. People are taking the ice home.
    • C. Earth's climate is getting warmer.
    • D. It is snowing too much.

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Answer key: Frozen water on Earth: glaciers, ice sheets and icebergs

  1. 1. A. Glacier meltwater fills their rivers in summer.

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. C. a huge river of ice that slowly slides downhill

  4. 4. A. thin ice crystals that form on cold surfaces overnight

  5. 5. D. Ice is only a little lighter than water, so it floats low.

  6. 6. B. False

  7. 7. C. a layer of frozen seawater on the ocean surface

  8. 8. C. Earth's climate is getting warmer.

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