Students have likely heard about melting polar ice and threats to polar wildlife caused by climate change. In the last decade, we have witnessed unprecedented melting of our polar ice. Data from NASA scientists show that Arctic sea ice has decreased substantially from the long-term average, and Antarctica is also losing ice mass in certain regions, although there is more uncertainty about Antarctic melting compared to Arctic melting. Students may have questions about what will happen as this ice melts and enters other systems on Earth.

Watch this video of 8th grade students in San Marcos, California—a coastal community. The purpose of this classroom video is to listen to student ideas about melting ice in different polar regions and outcomes of melting ice on the ocean and climate.

For additional classroom context, video analysis, and reflection opportunities, read the Picture of Practice page for "Melting Ice and Climate Change" in the One Ocean Educator Guide, or in the Changing Climate Educator Guide.