Science Polar Regions Conceptual 9–11 yrs

Earth's Frozen Water

地球的冰冻水资源

Description

Understand the cryosphere and its role in Earth's water system — the cryosphere is all frozen water on Earth (ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, permafrost, snow cover); polar ice sheets hold about 69% of Earth's fresh water; if all polar ice melted, sea levels would rise over 65 metres; and the water cycle connects polar ice to the global system through evaporation, precipitation, and meltwater flowing into oceans

Mastery Evidence

✓ Define the cryosphere as all frozen water on Earth and name its components: ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, permafrost, snow
✓ State that polar ice sheets hold approximately 69% of Earth's fresh water
✓ Explain how polar ice connects to the global water cycle and what would happen if it all melted (65m+ sea level rise)

Assessment Prompt

Does your child know that most of Earth's fresh water is actually locked up as ice at the poles — and that if it all melted, the sea would rise over 65 metres, flooding coastal cities worldwide?