To understand that climate change is causing ice caps to melt.
Age Range: under 10
Aim: to understand that climate change is causing ice caps to melt
You will need: ice cubes, globe (optional), newspaper, music to play
Duration: 20 minutes
What to do:
If you have a globe, use it to show the group the North Pole. Explain that the North pole is permanently frozen with ice, but as the global temperatures are getting warmer (because of climate change) the ice is starting to melt. If you have access to a freezer, make some ice cubes beforehand. Give each person an ice cube to hold in his or her hands, and let them see what happens when it gets warmer. Explain that as the ice is melting it turns into water. When the ice at the North Pole melts, the water goes into the sea, and it is starting to raise the level of the sea.
Play a game. Everyone has to pretend to be a Polar bear. Polar bears live on the ice. Use pages of newspaper to represent ice. Everyone has to move around when the music is playing, jumping from one piece of 'ice' to another. When the music stops they have to get on a piece of ice. Each time remove a piece of ice - explain that the 'ice' is disappearing because the temperature is getting warmer. It will get harder and harder to find somewhere to stand. People are out if they cannot get on a piece of paper.
Extra option
You could go on to ask people how they think we can stop the temperature from getting warmer. Give some simple suggestions such as not wasting energy by leaving the lights on, and walking instead of using cars.