How many glaciers advanced across the landscape and retreated back? Discover the answers by watching the four parts of this science show and reading the information below. And to take this learning adventure into your classroom, have your teacher download the free Discussion Guide at the bottom of this page so everyone can share in the fun of this inquiry based learning.

All this glacial activity started about 2.5 million years ago, and ended about 12,000 years ago. During that time, we had four major periods of glacial activity that shaped and reshaped our land surface. When the ice sheets finally retreated, they left behind some really interesting features. So in the end, the glaciers changed much of our surface geology. And it’s the geology of the land that affects a great many things in our lives today – from the water we drink to what forests grow where. The coolest news of all is that some scientists think we may be living in an “interglacial period”. Should we consider getting out our cross country skis?

The four parts of Trailing Ice Age Mysteries from Into the Outdoors and their companion Discussion Guide below, will help guide you and your classroom into unlocking many of the ice age mysteries the glaciers left behind. This is seriously COOL science, so just chill.

Plus, the educational partner noted below supported the video and lesson content here for all of us to learn from. They also offer other learning opportunities on their website. So click on their logo to discover more!

    Full Video

    Classroom Videos

    The Driftless Area

    Ice Age Trekking

    Glacial Geology Matters

    Exploring Glacial Features

    Ice Caves of Lake Superior

    Classroom Assets

    Rocking Around

    Lesson Guide Driftless Area

    Lesson Guide Glacial Geology Matters

    Wetlands Ecologist

    RElated Content

    Into Bowfishing – Fish That Fly: Silver Carp

    On this episode of Into the Outdoors, our Adventure Team discovers the wild world of bowfishing for silver carp. Hang on to your hats as we learn how to catch these...
    Mapping the Mysteries of the Great Lakes. Man and women walking on sand towards Great Lake

    Mapping the Mysteries: Great Lakes Careers

    When a school career fair leaves the team uninspired, Diane, Jack, and Terry split up to chase down real careers around the Great Lakes—from the harbors of Sheboygan,...

    Sturgeon Conservation

    Did you know that sturgeon have been around since the age of dinosaurs? No kidding - That’s a 150 million years! Discover this and more by watching the four parts of...

    Decoding Industrial Sand Mining

    When you think about mining, you probably think about minerals like gold, diamonds, or copper. But sand? What is so special about the sand deposits in Wisconsin and why...

    Into Bringing Back Wisconsin’s Elk

    Join us in this Into the Outdoors episode as we welcome the elk back to Wisconsin! But wait...maybe you didn’t even know they left?  Elk were completely eliminated in...

    Into Boating Safety: Exploring Vessels

    Join us in this episode of Into the Outdoors episode, we learn about vessels! What are they? How can they be safely operated? Being out on the water is a great way to...

    Plant Diversities

    The ITO science sleuths investigate how plants can create life from the raw abiotic elements in the environment, with some even making their own fertilizer from air....

    A River Reborn

    Rivers are like arteries, bringing life to the region surrounding them, washing away waste, purifying the environment with their biotic and abiotic processes.  Just...

    Protecting Forests, Enhancing Lives

    In Protecting Forests, Enhancing Lives two girls examine the perception that clear cutting forests is destroying the natural environment by visiting forests and...

    Chemistry of Life

    This episode unravels some of the foundational chemistry that affects everything on planet earth. It begins with the primary conversion of simple chemicals into complex...

    Thank you, Partners!