Lesson 2 of 3 · Plate Tectonics
Experiment⭐ 30 XPGlaciers and the Land
Plate Tectonics.
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
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.
Use your senses (except taste) to describe what you notice.
Write a summary of your findings in 3-5 sentences.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3How do fossils form?
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”
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
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
Full screen — no distractions
Checkout complete lesson on Plate Tectonics for 6th Grade
Get the full Plate Tectonics track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.