After doing tons of research, I am really concerned about global warming, but not so much the melting of the polar ice caps and going underwater. I originally thought before my research that if global warming occurred and the ice caps melted, the US would be underwater. I was happy to learn that would not be the case. When asking what would happen if they were to melt, it would first have to be identified as to which polar ice caps. According to the experiment, if it was the northern ice caps, nothing would happen with flooding because it is all ice floating above the water and due to displacement, there is no overflow. However, if it is the sourthen ice caps, the majority of those are on land and that would add to the rising of the sea level. When people discuss global warming, they often do not consider the difference between the two areas of ice caps. Also, I learned that global warming is way more than ice caps melting. It has an impact on our weather, the water cycle, and many other areas of the environment. This was truly a learning experience to me. The most interesting fact: Cows contribute to global warming by burping methane! The lesson: Eat less beef!
I had a couple questions after the experiment, some specific and others in general:
What are some reliable Internet sources that I could use with my fourth graders to have them get an accurate view on the varying viewpoints of global warming?
How can we make more people in our society more award of the situation with global warming and how to help?
Due to the limited time for a science class, could you continue an inquiry experience over the course of a few days? (Not this particular one, but a lengthier experiment)
I did not notice a direction for conclusions of this experiment. Is this normally a part of a Science Inquiry Experience? (Meaning where students refer back to the hypothesis that was formed.)
May I suggest researching NASA's website. They cover so much more than just space.
ReplyDeleteI think the best way to help educate others about global warming is through teaching our students. The more inqiry based learning we provide for students then they can draw their own conclusions. We as educators must trust that science can speak for itself. The truth will present itself when teachers can guide their students to earnestly seek what is true.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteCheck out the following site, and let me know what you think:
http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html
Amy :)
Reference:
The EPA Climate Change Kids Site. (2008). Retrieved from http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html
I actually came across that site in my research and I LOVE how it puts global warming into a language that kids can understand. It is a fantastic interactive website that I am excited to use in my classroom. The EPA is doing a wonderful thing by focusing on educating our youth. Great website!
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