Section 1
Glaciers Transform Landscapes Through Movement
Glaciers form when snow accumulates and compacts into ice that flows downhill or outward. As they move, they erode land by plucking rocks and create U-shaped valleys from V-shaped ones.
In this Grade 6 Earth Science lesson from Chapter 5, students learn how glaciers form, move, and shape landscapes through the processes of erosion and deposition. The lesson covers key vocabulary including glacier, till, moraine, and kettle lake, while exploring how moving ice carves landforms and deposits sediment. Students also examine the extent of glaciers during past ice ages and their lasting effects on North American landscapes.
Section 1
Glaciers Transform Landscapes Through Movement
Glaciers form when snow accumulates and compacts into ice that flows downhill or outward. As they move, they erode land by plucking rocks and create U-shaped valleys from V-shaped ones.
Section 2
Moving Ice Deposits Distinctive Landforms
Glaciers deposit sediment in distinctive patterns called moraines. Lateral moraines form along sides, end moraines mark farthest advance, and ground moraines create blankets of till underneath.
Section 3
Melting Ice Creates Unique Water Features
When glaciers retreat, blocks of ice become surrounded by sediment. As these ice blocks melt, they form bowl-shaped depressions that fill with water, creating kettle lakes common across northern states.
Section 4
Continental Ice Sheets Carve Major Lakes
During the last ice age, massive ice sheets gouged deep depressions and blocked drainage with debris. Their enormous weight caused land to sink, creating the Great Lakes that hold 20% of Earth's fresh lake water.
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Section 1
Glaciers Transform Landscapes Through Movement
Glaciers form when snow accumulates and compacts into ice that flows downhill or outward. As they move, they erode land by plucking rocks and create U-shaped valleys from V-shaped ones.
Section 2
Moving Ice Deposits Distinctive Landforms
Glaciers deposit sediment in distinctive patterns called moraines. Lateral moraines form along sides, end moraines mark farthest advance, and ground moraines create blankets of till underneath.
Section 3
Melting Ice Creates Unique Water Features
When glaciers retreat, blocks of ice become surrounded by sediment. As these ice blocks melt, they form bowl-shaped depressions that fill with water, creating kettle lakes common across northern states.
Section 4
Continental Ice Sheets Carve Major Lakes
During the last ice age, massive ice sheets gouged deep depressions and blocked drainage with debris. Their enormous weight caused land to sink, creating the Great Lakes that hold 20% of Earth's fresh lake water.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter