Skip to Main Content
Antarctica's Melting Ice

Antarctica's Melting Ice

Though it's far away from most other countries, the changes that impact Antarctica impact the rest of the world. Create visual awareness of climate change in the southernmost continent.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Craft Materials
  • Plastic Wrap
  • Sandpaper
  • Shells
  • Sticks
  • String

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have students research ice shelves in the Antarctic Peninsula concentrating on the effect of climate change to the region. The Antartic ice sheet is a glacier covering 98% of the continent. Global warming continues to melt the ice, and this greatly contributes to rising sea levels. Students can gather facts about decreasing ice thickness, ice-shelf disintegration, rising water temperatures, the effects on wildlife, and how all of this impacts us globally.

  • Step 2

    Students can demonstrate what they've learned by creating a visual presentation. On the left side of a piece of heavy paper have them draw the Antarctic Peninsula. On the right side sketch a building by the sea that's far away from Antarctica. Label each side, and depict the ocean in both drawings.

  • Step 3

    Make slits in the paper. Cut a strip of paper long enough to slide across the display to fit through the slits. Decorate the scene to demonstrate how water is encroaching farther on land, due to rising sea levels and the melting of the ice shelf. After the art is finished, slide the paper through the slits to show moving water.

  • Step 4

    Have students present their displays and discuss the impact of climate change and what can be done to combat it.

Standards

SCI: Ask questions about the features of phenomena observed and conclusions drawn from investigations or models.

SCI: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information based on evidence.

SCI: Use evidence to support the concept that behaviors can be influenced by the environment and the environment is impacted by behavior.

Adaptations

Have students work in small groups to research the weather in Antarctica and compare and contrast its weather to their region.

Students can research and chart global warming predictions. How would this affect plant and animal life? Would areas of the world eventually be submerged?

With no permanent human residents and no native population, who visits Antarctica and why? Have students take on the role of a reporter and write a newspaper article focused on expeditions to and research stations in Antarctica.