Hands-On Activity: Glacier Movement Demo
Big Question:
How can slow-moving ice reshape the land and change where life can survive?

Objective:
Demonstrate how glaciers move, carve land, and transport rocks—helping explain landscape changes and migration during the Ice Ages.

Materials Needed

• Large tray, baking dish, or shallow bin
• Damp sand, soil, or kinetic sand
• Small rocks, pebbles, or gravel
• A large block of ice (freeze water in a bowl or container)
• Optional: food coloring (to visualize meltwater)
• Paper towels

Setup

1. Spread a thick layer of damp sand or soil across the tray.
2. Add small rocks and pebbles on top and slightly pressed into the surface.
3. Place the ice block at one end of the tray (this represents a glacier).

Instructions for Parents

1. Set the Ice Age context
   Explain that during Ice Ages, massive glaciers covered parts of Earth. These glaciers moved very slowly, but they were powerful enough to reshape entire continents.
2. Start the glacier
   Gently tilt the tray slightly or slowly push the ice block forward. Let it slide across the sand.
3. Observe movement and change
   Ask your child to notice:
   • Scratches or grooves left in the sand
   • Rocks being pushed or carried along
   • Piles of sediment forming at the front or sides of the ice
4. Add meltwater (optional)
   Add a drop of food coloring to the ice or drizzle water over it to show how melting glaciers create rivers and change ecosystems.
5. Discuss land changes
   Explain that glaciers carved valleys, moved rocks far from their original locations, and reshaped habitats.

Parent Talking Points

• Level 1: “Glaciers move slowly, but they can push rocks and change the land.”
• Level 2: “Glaciers reshape Earth through erosion and deposition. As ice melts and sea levels change, ecosystems shift and migration routes open or close.”

Migration Connection
Explain that when glaciers locked up water:

• Sea levels dropped
• Land bridges formed, including Beringia
• Animals and humans could migrate into new regions

When glaciers melted:

• Sea levels rose
• Land bridges disappeared
• Migration paths closed

Reflection Questions 

• What happened to the land after the glacier passed over it?
• How might animals be forced to move when ice covers their habitat?
• Why would melting glaciers change where people could live?

Wrap-Up
Emphasize that glaciers didn’t just change the land—they changed the course of life, shaping ecosystems, migration, and eventually human history.