Lesson 8 of 15 · Earth Systems
Experiment⭐ 30 XP🌋 Rock RealmGlaciers and the Land
Earth Systems.
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
Weather isn't random — it's just complicated.
Mind = Blown
🌊 The deepest part of the ocean is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you observe: what shape will it leave?
What You'll Learn
Glaciers are massive bodies of ice that form from compacted snow. They shape landscapes by carving valleys, depositing sediment, and creating features like moraines and cirques.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- rocks
- water
- plastic tray
Safety First
- Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards and keep the material away from your face.
- Mop up spills straight away so nobody slips, and keep liquids away from sockets.
Steps
Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.
Model erosion: tilt a tray of soil and pour water from a cup at the top. Observe how channels form. Try adding plants or rocks to slow the erosion.
Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.
Create a data table to organize your measurements.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3How do fossils form?
Where you see this in real life
This is shaping the ground you walk on, slowly, every single day.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Find a rock outside and try to guess how old it is.
For the dinner table
“What's the slowest change you can think of?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Ready?
Glaciers and the Land
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
Full screen — no distractions
Checkout complete lesson on Earth Systems for 5th Grade
Get the full Earth Systems track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.
