Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE)
Arctic Smorgasbord
Though the walrus spends roughly one third of its time on land, it eats organisms that live on the bottom of the ocean. The first in a series of five, the lesson uses a variety of plant and animal cards to have scholars build an arctic...
Curated OER
Inuit and Arctic Animals
Students will explore the animals and people living in the Arctic. In this science lesson, students locate Alaska on a globe, discuss its climate and geographical features, and identify common arctic animals. Students complete the first...
Curated OER
Arctic Animals: How Do They Measure Up?
Young scientists grab their measuring tapes, rulers, and yard sticks as they see how big Arctic animals really are. To conceptualize the trait of height or length, each small group will measure out the entire length of an arctic animal....
World Wildlife Fund
Arctic Food Chain
Explore the food chains that support Arctic ecosystems. A class discussion on interdependence and the different roles plants and animals play in ecosystems provides students with the knowledge to complete a worksheet asking them to...
World Wildlife Fund
Bar Charts & Pie Charts
Learn about life in the Arctic while practicing how to graph and interpret data with this interdisciplinary instructional activity. Starting with a whole group data-gathering exercise, students are then given a worksheet on which they...
Curated OER
Researching Polar Animals
Second graders read the questions about polar animals and use the Internet to perform a search for the answers to the questions. They click on the blue links to go to the particular website with the answers and then print off their sheet.
Curated OER
Arctic/Antarctic Animals
Fourth graders explore animals of the Arctic and Antarctic and then create a report. They become aware of the great diversity among animals.
Polar Trec
Arctic Smorgasbord!
Two blooms of phytoplankton, instead of just one, now occur in the Arctic due to declining sea ice, which will have widespread effects on the marine life and climate. In small groups, participants build an Arctic food web with given...
Curated OER
Animals of the Arctic
Students discover the animals that make the Canadian Arctic their home. In this Arctic animals lesson, students research the animals that live in the region and create posters that feature their findings.
Wild BC
Bearly Any Ice
After reviewing food chains, your class members participate in an arctic predator-prey game that exemplifies the impact of climate change of food availability. If you are in a hurry, skip this instructional activity, but if you have the...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Food for Thought: Climate Change and Trophic Cascades
Learners examines the arctic food web with a short video about polar bears and an article about bears and warming temperatures. They design an arctic food web and discuss the trophic cascade that could come from climate change.
Prince William Network
Migration Headache
During this game, kids become migratory shorebirds and fly among wintering, nesting, and stopover habitats. If they do not arrive at a suitable habitat on time, they do not survive. Catastrophic events are periodically introduced that...
National Wildlife Federation
Massive Migrations
Turn your students into flocks of migratory birds for this fun lesson on animal migration. Prior to the activity, the teacher creates four different migration routes in the classroom or any available open space, labeling nesting...
World Wildlife Fund
Land of the Midnight Sun
From days of 24 hour sunlight, to endless nights that last for days, the Arctic is a very unique place to live. Examine the seasonal changes that occur in the northern-most reaches of the globe and the impact they have on the plants and...
Curated OER
Life in the Arctic
Students create a model of an arctic animal. In this animal adaptation lesson, students research an arctic animal, create a 3-D model of their animal, and explain the physical characteristics animals in the arctic need to survive.
Curated OER
Wild Arctic
Students explore key terms, including food web and food chain. They discuss Arctic plants and animals, devise at least three Arctic food chains and create a food web showing connections among Arctic life.
Curated OER
The Magic School Bus In the Arctic
Students learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. For this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students explore how insulation works to keep in body heat.
Curated OER
Why Polar Bears Are White
Students are introduced to the concept of camouflage and protective coloration as well as Arctic animals. They examine how color can help animals in the wild. Students discuss where polar bears live and why they are white.
Polar Trec
Foraging for Fish in a Melting Arctic
How much do you know about the black guillemot of the Arctic region? With great background information, images, and a quick discussion, the class will learn all about the plight of the foraging seabird as they play a fun game. First,...
Polar Trec
Nature's Density Column
Nature provides density columns in the polar regions that provides food for many animals. Young scientists build their own density columns with water in order to answer analysis questions. Through a slideshow presentation, scholars...
Polar Trec
Calorimetry Lab
Young people between the ages of 11–13 need on average about 2,000 calories per day. Within the lab, groups learn about calorimetry and respiration. They explore how it pertains to humans and animals living the Arctic where cold...
Curated OER
Polar Bears in Peril - Climate Change Culprit?
High schoolers explore the changes in sea ice over several years. In this life science lesson plan, students review and examine 20 years of data. They use Excel to graph data and analyze trends.
Curated OER
Adjectives
First graders participate in group activity in which they examine how to use words, adjectives, to better describe people, animals, places, and things. They listen to a read aloud of "The Napping House" while describing items on each...
Curated OER
Winter Survival
Students create a list of the five most important things they need to survive a winter night. In this survival lesson, students work in groups to list things they would need to survive a night outside in winter. Students remove items...