What happens if the polar ice caps melt?

What happens if the polar ice caps melt?

As I dive further into scientific literature and research papers regarding the issue of melting icecaps I move further away from a thorough answer. Science is far from being perfect and all too often research data and results are manipulated and used in destructive ways. I agree that polar ice caps are melting. Satellite images and vanishing ice sheets are proof enough for me. The notion that I struggle with is the human connection.  I am all about ecological and environmental problem solving but I can’t help but look at nature as series of cycles.  The shift in our climate leads me to think that this is part of Earth’s natural cycle.  Although we can all do something to minimize our carbon footprint, I am sceptical about humans being fully responsible for climate change. If every person and industry actively eliminated all carbon emission and thus curbing climate change, would it be enough to stop our ice caps form melting?

Scientific evidence exists to support the theory that polar ice caps are melting. In some areas of the world they are melting at an alarming rate. I say alarming because anything different or abnormal will have a negative impact on living and non-living matter. Seasonal periods of droughts should not be replaced with record breaking rainfall. The local ecosystems and wildlife are not equipped to adjust to sudden changes. As a result, species disappear, must relocate or find themselves competing with other organism or even humans for space, food or shelter.

This science inquiry has left me with many questions:

1. Once the ice caps are gone (and all the fresh water stored in them), will our groundwater supply be capable of supporting our demands?
2. Do we have sufficient mechanisms in place (natural and man-made) to purify the fresh-water we have if it becomes contaminated?
3. Is it possible to use osmosis on a large scale to purify our salt water?
4. If sea levels rise as much as scientist predict, will we be able to grow enough food to feed the Earth’s population with the limited land available? Will technological advances be ready to grow bigger, better crops on smaller acreage?
5. Can humans really make that big a difference in climate change?

I know that scientists and researchers have data that can help answer these questions in a number of ways – both positively and negatively.

STEM Strategies Lesson Plan

The lesson I posted this week was for my grade 7 students.  A strand of their science curriculum requires them to look at geological catastrophic events and find patterns.  Although I have my year mapped out and we have already completed the unit on land features, I have taken the time to discuss and study the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  My experience with taking these real world events and applying them to a lesson in the classroom has always been very positive.  The students often have questions that require us to dig a little deeper to get the answers.  The students are always so much more engaged in the learning process when they can take this new knowledge and discuss it with their family and friends.

The lesson required them to use Google map and a jigsaw puzzle of the Pangaea continent to create a map. They would plot the 20 most devastating earthquakes and 20 largest volcanoes on it. The final product will be a map of the Ring of Fire.  This allows them to see where the hot spots are and predict where they may see more volcanic or seismic activity. The discussions are always wonderful and the students are free to pick any volcano or earthquake they wish to place on their map.  It is also involves group work and collaborative effort. The 5 E's were helpful in providing the necessary context to guide and focus my attention to ensure my lesson plan was well balance and followed through. 

The only downfall is the devastating images that many of my students have come across on their own time.  It has required a lot of debriefing and support while they reflect on the loss of life as a result of such a violent geological event.

This was different from how I normally plan a lesson.  It was driven by current events instead of by the teaching plan in place for the year. Either way, it was created for meaningful learning to take place.