Melting ice caps and glaciers (non statutory - Climate Change & Sustainability)
I can describe the effect of melting ice caps and glaciers on sea level.
Melting ice caps and glaciers (non statutory - Climate Change & Sustainability)
I can describe the effect of melting ice caps and glaciers on sea level.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning 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.
- Ice caps and glaciers play important roles in regulating Earth’s sea levels and temperature.
- When ice caps and glaciers melt, sea levels rise.
Keywords
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 misconception
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.
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.
To help you plan your year 4 science lesson on: Melting ice caps and glaciers (non statutory - Climate Change & Sustainability), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 science lesson on: Melting ice caps and glaciers (non statutory - Climate Change & Sustainability), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Introduction to states of matter and changing states unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Small dishes, modelling clay, water, ice cubes.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions



Exit quiz
6 Questions


