What happens if the polar ice caps melt?

            I don’t believe that if the polar ice caps melt there would be worldwide flooding.  Since the ice is floating in the water it displaces the volume of the water that is the same amount of the piece of ice, so as the ice melts it takes up the same amount of space.  Or so I think it would...  However, the change in water temperature will affect the species of plants and animals that can survive. 

My Questions:                                                                                        

• Does the amount of ice that was over the top of the bowl affect if the water will overflow? 
• How fast does water evaporate?
• Did some of the water evaporate during the time that it took the ice to melt? 

5 E's Strategy Reflection

This week I designed a lesson plan for second graders about the life cycles of insects using the 5 E’s Strategy.  I thought the 5 E’s strategy was helpful because it made me think about specific questions that I would want to ask my students to get them thinking like scientists.  Also, I was forced to think through ways to really engage my students in the learning process and come up with a plan for identifying possible misconceptions.  This process was different from the way I usually plan my lessons because I spent a great deal of time on the planning piece.  Normally, I have very little time to devote to planning so I don’t take the time to think through all the 5 E’s strategies.  I usually spend time during science class thinking about these things as I’m teaching the lesson and make adjustments as needed.  I plan to implement this lesson with my students starting in April, after we get back to school from spring break.  I mailed in my coupon for painted lady butterfly larva and it should arrive that week.  At this time I don’t feel that there are any issues that need to be addressed with implementing this lesson.