Activity One - The Geography of Awe and Wonder

A unit of inquiry which explores glaciers, their associated landforms and the impact of climate change for some of you may not seem that exciting. I am here to change your mind.  

1. Collect a copy of the visible thinking routine 'See, Think, Wonder' and using the photography below in the 'Useful Resources' box fill in the first three boxes. No need for full sentences. Only spend one or two minutes on each box. 

2. Group discussion of the results. 

3. Using the link under the website icon, choose one image and say why it is interesting to you.  Aim to write a paragraph (5-7 sentences) to justify your thoughts. A number of you will be chosen to read out your answers. 

Useful Resources

Activity Two - Why?

As always I think it is important to understand why we are undertaking a unit of study about glaciers. Yes, we live close (at the moment) to glaciers and they have helped to shape the environment in which we live but so what? Why are they important to us?  Collect a copy of the worksheet below and by using the National Geographic YouTube clip fill it in. 

Useful Resources

Activity Three - From Snowflake to Ice

We have so far looked at why some people may think glacial environments are amazing and how they can be categorised. We are now going to formalise our understanding of how glaciers are formed. 

1. With the aid of a diagram, describe how a glacier is formed. Use the resources below to help you. 

Useful Resources

Activity Four - Gain and Loss

Depending on the season, temperatures and available precipitation glaciers can both grow in size and lose it. The location in which the glacier is gaining new snow and ice this is called the accumulation zone. It can often be found in the upper part of the glacier. The area in which the glacier is losing mass by melting is called the ablation zone. This is generally found at the end of the glacier called the snout. The point at which the glacier is neither gaining or losing mass is called the equilibrium line. It separates the zones which are accumulating ice or losing it. If the equilibrium line is high up the valley or mountain then the glacier is generally shrinking in overall size. This is what we are currently seeing here in Europe. 

1. Make a simple copy of the diagram below. Remember to draw in pencil and it needs to fill about a third of a page. 

2. Add onto the diagram the zone of accumulation and ablation, along with the equilibrium line. Remember that this is a model and therefore it does not represent a specific place at this point in time. 

3. Add the definitions of the zone of accumulation, zone of ablation, equilibrium line and snout to your diagram.

Useful Resource