Melting Icebergs: Science Inquiry

The presented melting iceberg experiment is a great activity to present students with an inquiry of the effects of such events.  This task is structured and contains the necessary guidance as to permit students construct and formulate their own questions as to understand the reality and seriousness of this melting of icebergs and polar ice caps. 

The experiment demonstrates that as the floating ice melts the volume of water increases.  What would happen if the polar ice caps melted?  There will be a combination of events: 1) rising of sea levels, 2) accelerate global warming, 3) changes ecosystems, 4) threatens human culture and economics, and 5) increases seawater freshwater contamination, which can affect coastal erosion.  All these in one way or the other are interconnected.

One of the most talked about concerns is that of the rising of the sea levels.  It has been documented that the melting itself of icebergs doesn’t affect sea levels.  On the other end, the melting of the polar ice caps will because as the ice melts, the temperature of the seawater increases.  It is important to mention that the polar ice caps help reflect sunlight back into the atmosphere, if the ice is melted the sunlight will be absorbed by the ocean thus increasing its temperature, which will cause the water to expand and rise.  This rising of the temperature will accelerate global warming.

Global warming has been a topic of national and global importance among communities of scientists and political officials.  This itself can bring other questions (inquires) from this activity:

1. How does global warming affect the polar ice caps?
2. Have governmental agencies develop a realistic plan to slow down global warming?  * in the last 100 years global warming has increase ½ degree.
3. Currently, are the 2 mayor polar ice caps in danger (Artic & Antarctica)?
4. How will it directly affect populations of humans and other species?

All these questions can have its instructional value during this task.  The great part of these types of activities is that it invites students to formulate their own inquiries and look for the answers.  Definitely, this is a good inquiry based instruction sample in which active learning is in place.  Students will engage in the activity by formulating questions and collecting data, which they will use to present and reflect.  Students will conduct the experiment and apply their learning to their lives, society, and technology (Hammerman, 2006).

References:

Hammerman, E. L. (2006). Becoming a better science teacher: 8 steps to high quality instruction and student achievement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.