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Summary and Objective
Students will understand that, as world-wide demand for ice to preserve and enhance food grew, ice harvesters and shippers faced challenges in storing and shipping ice across the world. To this end, students will test a variety of commonly available materials for insulating properties and determine, through scientific method, which might be the best for preserving ice over long voyages.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
View and discuss the photos from the collection. What are the steps involved in harvesting ice? How would you rate the labor intensity of harvesting ice? What advantages does ice offer as a food preservative over other methods, such as drying or canning food?
Step 2.
Explore the links listes below to learn more about the ice industries in New England and other northern regions of the U.S. What problems needed to be overcome to insure that enough ice reached its distant markets? What materials were commonly used as insulation? How effective were they? How might they compare with insulating materials available today?
Step 3.
Your small group has just formed an ice shipping company to compete with well-established shippers of your time. Select several materials to test for insulating properties. Design an experiment, using scientific method, to investigate the effectiveness of the materials available to merchants of the late 19th century.
Step 4.
After carrying out your experiment, your group should use your data to design a method of shipping ice overseas that will attract and satisfy customers the world over.
Step 5.
Now work together to create an advertising campaign to reach potential customers of the late 19th century. Create newspaper ads, write articles, design posters, and/or build models to "sell" your design.
Step 6.
Share your investigations and your designs at a "Scientific Exposition."
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