Year 4 - Science
Melting ice caps and glaciers (non statutory - Climate Change & Sustainability)
Introduction to states of matter and changing states
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the properties of solids, liquids, and gases, and how materials change state when heated or cooled. It covers evaporation, condensation, and the water cycle, with a focus on practical enquiries, careful observations, accurate measurements, and presenting findings.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the effect of melting ice caps and glaciers on sea level.
Key Notes
- Ice caps and glaciers are found in the coldest parts of the world, and mostly at the North and South Poles.
- Ice caps and glaciers are melting as the world has warmed up a lot in the last 50 years.
- Ice caps and glaciers play important roles in regulating Earth's sea levels and temperature.
- When ice caps and glaciers melt, sea levels rise.
Vocabulary To Learn
- ice cap: An ice cap is a thick layer of ice that permanently covers an area of land.
- glacier: A glacier is a slow moving river of ice that covers an area of land.
- melting: Melting is when a substance changes from a solid state to a liquid state.
- sea level: Sea level is the position on land that sea reaches.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children may not have heard of glaciers and may think that the only year-round ice is at the poles. Melting ice caps and glaciers do not affect sea level.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Ice caps and glaciers are found in the coldest parts of the world, and mostly at the North and South Poles. Ice caps and glaciers are melting as the world has warmed up a lot in the last 50 years.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'ice cap'
An ice cap is a thick layer of ice that permanently covers an area of land. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Children may not have heard of glaciers and may think that the only year-round ice is at the poles. Melting ice caps and glaciers do not affect sea level. Correction: Teaching slides introduce ice caps and glaciers and note that they are found all over the world. The effect of melting ice caps and glaciers on sea level is explained and children have a chance to model it.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Changing state: gas to liquid Study Guide
- Changing state: liquid to gas Study Guide
- Changing state: liquid to solid Study Guide
- Changing state: solid to liquid Study Guide
- Comparing and grouping solids, liquids and gases Study Guide
- Evaporation and condensation in the water cycle Study Guide
- Everyday examples of changing state: solids and liquids (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Everyday examples of evaporation and condensation (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Melting temperatures: do and review Study Guide
- Melting temperatures: plan Study Guide
- Melting temperatures: research Study Guide
- Properties of solids, liquids and gases Study Guide
- Temperature and evaporation: do and review Study Guide
- Temperature and evaporation: plan Study Guide
- Thermometers and data loggers Study Guide
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