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Educators' Science and Mathematics Institute Series
Winter Ecology Lesson Plan
Descriptive Title: “The Tip of the Iceberg”
Submitted By: Joan Schumaker-Chadde
Subject and Grade Level: Science/Math gr 6-8
Overview/Purpose:
Students will discover what % of an iceberg is above and below the water surface. Students will also compare if icebergs behave differently in fresh and salt water.
To be able to develop and test a hypothesis
Compare behavior of floating objects in fresh and salt water
Explain why icebergs are a threat to ships in northern oceans
Apply math skills for calculating volumes and % averages
Objectives (Learner Outcomes):
Hypothesize and develop an experiment to test their hypothesis about icebergs behavior in water
Measure H, W, L of iceberg and calculate total volume
Calculate % of iceberg above and below water's surface
Repeat experiment using salt water
Explain where saying “That's only the tip of the iceberg” may have come from
Activities and Procedures:
Ask students what % of iceberg is above water surface
In groups of 3, have students develop an experiment to determine the % of an iceberg above and below water's surface using materials available (total volume/volume above, or below = %)
Review with students how to calculate volume and %
Students collect data from floating ice block
Compare students groups' data and calculate average
Research literature and compare (~11%) with data
Research arctic shipwrecks
Oil spills
Titanic
Closure:
Discuss why ice floats in water.
Weigh ice block and equal volume of water
Show that ice floats because it is less dense than water @ 33ºF or 1ºC
Assessment Strategies:
Evaluate students' ability to:
Develop and test a hypothesis
Calculate volume and %
Discussion of arctic shipping and ramifications of hitting an iceberg
Write a lab report of process and finding
Materials: (Per group of 3 students)
Plastic tub (~2)
Quart ice blocks (~2)
Ruler
Water
Calculator (optional)
Salt
Plastic qt. Container
Balance and scale
Standards Addressed:
Science
Constructing New Scientific Knowledge
Using Scientific Knowledge in Physical Science
Math
Data Analysis
Number Sense
Literature/History/Social Sciences
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