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Summary and Objective
Students will construct a classroom model of a glacier. Through observations they will understand that glaciation and the water cycle have powerful effects on an area such as the Connecticut River Valley. They will learn vocabulary to identify the actions they observe in their model.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Students will construct a model of a glacier in their classroom. They will obtain a plastic storage box approximately 16" x 6" x 36". Students will spread moist gravel to a depth of approximately 2" over the entire bottom of the box and press it down. Next, they will cover the gravel with approximately 1" of moist topsoil(loam). They will elevate one end of the box at an angle of about 30 degrees and put something under the end to keep it elevated.
Step 2.
Students will need to freeze solidly several 1/2 gallon containers of water. (Recycled milk or juice cartons work well.) When solidly frozen, the students will remove a "glacier "from its carton. The "glacier" should be placed at the top of the slope in the box. As the ice melts, put another "glacier" in the location where the last ice melted. Students will observe the actions of the ice and the water for several days. (If too much water collects in the "lake" at the bottom of the model, some can be removed.)
Step 3.
Students will be able to identify...erosion and deposition of topsoil; exposure of rocks which represent glacial erratics; river or stream channels; the formation of a lake at the bottom of the slope; a delta,where the stream or river channel enters the lake; silt in the channels and forming the delta; and deep, rich sediment on the lake bottom.
Step 4.
Students will find the "Mt. Toby" image on the American Centuries website. They will read the label and using the "look closer" feature, they will locate the area on the map where glacial deposits can be found.
Step 5.
Students will find the image of "Tobacco and Onion Fields, Connecticut Valley" on the American Centuries website. They will read the caption and be able to explain the role of glaciation in creating the richness of the valley's soils.
Step 6.
Students will search the American Centuries website for examples of geological formations in the Connecticut River Valley and its surrounding area. One example is the image of "Mt. Sugarloaf". They should be able to discuss the role the glacier played in the formations they select.
Step 7.
Students should be able to explain how glaciers impact the landscape and share their observations with their classmates and teacher. This can be done in the form of journals, drawings, diagrams, dioramas, posters, or narrative. Students may suggest other ideas for sharing their observations. Ideas may be drawn from their classroom work or from the website links.
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