Come gather round, young ones, and hear
A tale of ice and snow, so clear
Of glaciers and their icy might
That shaped the land with all their might.

In the north, the continent's vast
A glacier once did lay and last
A massive sheet of ice compressed
It stretched out far, and knew no rest.

The continental glacier's force
Carved out valleys with no remorse
It crept along with icy power
For miles and miles, hour by hour.

It dragged along rocks and stones
And carried them till they were gone
It left behind a moraine line
That marks where it once did shine.

At the top, where the snow line lies
Firn and ice became compact and wise
As time went by, it moved with grace
A valley glacier in its place.

It carved a path with crevasses deep
And caused the land to quake and steep
It carved out fjords and prairies fair
Till it could go no more, with care.

It birthed icebergs, oh so grand
That floated off to distant lands
And when the glacier did recede
It left behind a new prairie seed.

So let us cherish, young and old
The stories that the glaciers hold
For they shaped the land we see today
And will do so in a wondrous way.

Reflections

1. What is a glacier, and how does it move?
2. How do glaciers shape the land around them?
3. What is the difference between a continental glacier and a valley glacier?
4. Can you think of any real-life examples of glaciers or the features they create, such as fjords or moraines?
5. How might life be different in a place that is affected by glaciers, compared to a place that isn't?