Ice Age: When Glaciers Covered Land — Reading Comprehension

The Ice Age was a long period in Earth's history when huge parts of the land were covered by thick sheets of ice called glaciers. This happened thousands of years ago, when temperatures around the world were much colder than they are today.

Glaciers are made of layers of snow that get packed down tightly over many years. When enough snow builds up, it becomes heavy and turns into solid ice. These giant ice sheets can move very slowly, sliding across the land. As they move, glaciers can pick up rocks and soil, carving out deep valleys and leaving behind big piles of rocks called moraines.

The climate during the Ice Age was much colder and drier than today. Plants and animals had to adapt to survive. Some animals, like the woolly mammoth and the saber-toothed cat, had thick fur to keep warm. Many plants were smaller and grew close to the ground to avoid freezing wind.

Scientists study fossils and rocks to learn about the Ice Age. They have found marks and scratches on rocks made by moving glaciers. In many places, you can still see glacial lakes and U-shaped valleys that were shaped by glaciers long ago. Today, there are still some glaciers left, like those in Greenland and Antarctica.

Understanding the Ice Age helps us learn how Earth's climate can change. By studying how glaciers formed and melted, scientists can better understand climate change today and in the future.

Interesting Fact: The last Ice Age ended about 12,000 years ago, but small glaciers still exist in some cold parts of the world!

What is a glacier?

When did the Ice Age end?

What did glaciers leave behind?

Why did some Ice Age animals have thick fur?

How do glaciers shape land?

Where can glaciers still be found today?

Glaciers are made of snow and ice.

What is a moraine?