International Polar Week Collection
Illustration of the Equinoxes.
In celebration, several organizations have partnered together to host a variety of activities to connect and educate people about the polar regions. Learn more about the Polar Regions through this special collection of materials gathered to help celebrate this global event. These resources are FREE and will always be available, allowing you to access them at any time. In addition, every event will have a global activity, something that anyone and everyone can do! For more information on Polar Week you can check out the APECS Polar Week Page for all the events.
Here are the featured additions to the resource collection - submitted and reviewed by members of Polar Educators International:
- Be a part of the biggest polar activity of the year! Check out the global activity for September 2012:
Flakes, Blobs, and Bubbles: An Ice Core Art Project
Other activities include:
- Sun Shadows Project - Italy, Belgium, Global!
- Acidity and Climate Change in the Arctic
- Conductivity of Freshwater vs. Seawater
- The Effects of Air Pollution on the Melting of Polar Ice
- Where in the World is King George Island?
- Photosynthesis, Decomposition and the "Buried Carbon" Hypothesis
- How is Glacier Goo Similar to a Real Glacier?
- Is it Getting Warm in Here? Ecology - Carbon Cycle
- Polar Detectives: Using Ice Core Data to Decode Past Climate Mysteries
The International Polar Week Collection was created with the help from researchers and educators that work in the polar regions and supported by Association of Polar Early Career Scientists,Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S., and Polar Educators International (polareducators [at] gmail [dot] com).
Lesson
Updated:
March 20, 2012 - 6:29am
Excerpt:
Overview
Elizabeth Eubanks PolarTREC teacher 2008 – Arctic Tundra Dynamics created this lesson to introduce her students to a wide variety of polar scientists and their research. Students will use the PolarTREC and other websites to learn about the various research projects that are going on at...
Completion Time:
Less than a week
Grade Level:
All Ages
Title:
Polar Profiles
Updated:
February 21, 2012 - 3:31pm
Excerpt:
Overview
Students will develop an understanding of what it takes to interview scientists, and take the corresponding data and reformat it into an electronic medium.
Objective
Students will be able to write questions to scientists in the field, interview, take the data collected, and convert to...
Completion Time:
About a week
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Related Expeditions:
Bering Ecosystem Study 08
Related Members:
Jillian Worssam
Title:
Family Polar Fun Day
Updated:
March 13, 2013 - 5:46am
Excerpt:
Overview
Plan and run a family fun afternoon or evening with several hands-on activities. Students help run the activity stations and share what they have learned about the Polar Regions. A great culminating activity for a unit on the Arctic, Antarctica, or both, and a fun way to involve families...
Completion Time:
Less than a week
Grade Level:
Elementary and Up
Updated:
October 17, 2012 - 6:35am
Excerpt:
Teacher Notes
Students investigate the formation, physical and chemical properties of ice cores to determine the cause of a discrepant event.
Key Concept
Scientists analyze ice cores for evidence of climate history.
Background
This activity is based on known events: 1783's Laki volcano in...
Completion Time:
About a week
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Web Link
Updated:
March 14, 2012 - 12:11pm
Excerpt:
The Arctic Climate Modeling Program (ACMP) provides curriculum-based arctic resources for use with K-12 students. Resources include inquiry-based classroom lessons, a student network for observing arctic weather (S.N.O.W.) , digital lectures, and an interactive multimedia learning system (on DVD...
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
February 28, 2012 - 3:36pm
Excerpt:
Polar science is a topic both your students and you can get into. This publication gives you a variety of angles to choose from in implementing a study of polar science. This resource was created under a National Science Foundation Grant by Middle School Portal 2: Math & Science Pathways.
Grade Level:
Elementary and Up
Updated:
March 8, 2013 - 11:54pm
Excerpt:
MapMaker Kits offer K-12 students the opportunity to work with key mapping concepts at a variety of scales and to see the world in new ways. Unique large-scale maps and activities engage students in the manipulation and analysis of a variety of geographic information sets, helping them build skills...
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
March 26, 2012 - 6:19am
Excerpt:
Mystery Class is a global game of hide-and-seek. Follow photoperiod clues to search for ten secret sites around the world. Track sunlight to solve a mystery! Discover the reasons for seasons along the way.
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
March 20, 2013 - 10:35am
Excerpt:
Icy IPY activities can be downloaded in word documents and tried in your classroom. From 'Blubber Gloves' to 'Experiments with Ice and Snow', there are a wealth of different activities to introduce students to the Polar Regions or complement their existing knowledge of the Poles.
The International...
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
March 26, 2012 - 6:28am
Excerpt:
What's a Flexhibit? A Flexhibit is a Flexible Exhibit package that contains a set of hands-on learning activities, attractive banner graphics, and video podcasts that make it possible for groups of 10- to 15- year olds to engage in both learning and teaching. Groups of students can complete the...
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Updated:
March 29, 2012 - 5:33am
Date:
Mon, 03/01/2010
Excerpt:
The Polar Resource Book - Polar Science and Global Climate: An International Resource for Education & Outreach - was written to ensure that the efforts catalyzed by the International Polar Year (IPY) will continue to inspire educators, students, and emerging polar researchers with a shared...
Grade Level:
All Ages
Link:
Pearson Bookshop
Updated:
March 20, 2012 - 6:41am
Excerpt:
This web site offers in-depth information on all manner of penguin life - photos, animations, and live penguin cams will delight viewers of all ages. Follow the link to 'Penguins Marching into the Classroom' for penguin-related educational activities, picture galleries, journals, and skill testing...
Grade Level:
All Ages
Link:
Penguin Science
Updated:
March 16, 2012 - 3:27pm
Excerpt:
ANDRILL (ANtarctic geological DRILLing) has drilled and recovered thousands of meters of rock core from beneath the McMurdo Ice Shelf in Antarctica. What secrets are hidden in this rock? Why do scientists from around the world work together to uncover these secrets that have been shrouded beneath...
Grade Level:
All Ages
Link:
ANDRILL Project Iceberg
Updated:
May 15, 2012 - 5:41am
Excerpt:
This detailed animation shows how the Earth is lit by the Sun throughout the year. The lighting of the Arctic and the Antarctic is detailed for every month of the year to help explain, among other things, the resulting polar night.
The animation is available in the following languages:
English:...
Grade Level:
Elementary and Up
Updated:
March 21, 2012 - 1:51pm
Excerpt:
This website is an English translation of some of the sections of the progettosmilla.it website, the Italian educational project of ANDRILL, an Antarctic International Scientific Research project. The site includes a blog from Antarctica, descriptions of ANDRILL research geared to students and...
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Updated:
March 21, 2012 - 1:50pm
Date:
Sun, 03/18/2012 - Sat, 03/24/2012
Excerpt:
Learn more about Polar Week and research on the southern continent through the website of the Italian National Museum (Museo Nazionale Antartide). Note: The website is in Italian.
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
April 9, 2012 - 1:44pm
Excerpt:
Explore this interactive animation showing the size of Antarctica relative to other continents and countries. This resource was developed by the Italian educational project in the context of ANDRILL (Antarctic Geological drilling) research. The site is in Italian but the animation can be used...
Grade Level:
All Ages
Video
Updated:
February 28, 2012 - 3:21pm
Excerpt:
Professor Cynthia de Wit of Stockholm University explains the concept of biomagnification of persistant organic pollutants in arctic marine ecosystems.
This video comes from the APECS (Association for Polar Early Career Scientists) webinar library.
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Link:
View Original
Updated:
March 7, 2012 - 6:03pm
Date:
Sun, 02/19/2012
Excerpt:
Permafrost is a key cryospheric component and of global interest for better understanding climate change. This short film presents an overview of permafrost on Earth and focuses on the International Polar Year (IPY) activities of a research group from the University of Lisbon and its international...
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Link:
View Original
Updated:
March 7, 2012 - 5:53pm
Date:
Tue, 08/05/2008
Excerpt:
Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's...
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Link:
View Original
Updated:
May 7, 2012 - 5:51am
Date:
Mon, 01/05/2009
Excerpt:
Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's...
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Link:
View Original
Updated:
March 7, 2012 - 5:55pm
Date:
Fri, 04/10/2009
Excerpt:
Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's...
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Link:
View Original
Updated:
March 7, 2012 - 6:00pm
Date:
Thu, 09/10/2009
Excerpt:
Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's...
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Link:
View Original
Updated:
March 7, 2012 - 6:01pm
Date:
Sun, 02/19/2012
Excerpt:
A young marine biologist from Portugal shows the science, the beauty and the importance of the polar regions to the planet from a research cruise en route to Antarctica. Film is primarily in Portuguese with some English.
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
Elementary and Up
Link:
View Original
Activity
Updated:
August 14, 2012 - 5:04pm
Date:
Mon, 01/16/2012 - Fri, 03/30/2012
Excerpt:
Introduction
Join the International Sun Shadows Project! - Pupils and teachers all over the world will join forces to measure the shadows of a 1m long stick.
Participation in the project is free and open to all! Teachers, students and scientists from around the world are encouraged to join in and...
Completion Time:
Less than a week
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Link:
Sun Shadows Project
Updated:
March 20, 2013 - 10:35am
Excerpt:
Students experiment with a “blubber glove” to experience how insulation affects heat transfer, and how the adaptation of blubber helps penguins as well as seals, whales and walruses survive in bitterly cold waters.
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Title:
Sediment Tubes
Updated:
March 20, 2013 - 10:35am
Excerpt:
Students will observe how soils and rocks of different densities behave in wind and in water. They will make predictions and careful observations as they learn about sediment transport and sediment rates in streams and rivers.
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Updated:
March 16, 2012 - 8:05am
Excerpt:
This PDF handout and activity provides background information about polar weather and climate followed by an activity to help students consider their own local weather vs. polar weather. Students will observe the weather where they live and report on basic meteorological data such as air...
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Updated:
March 16, 2012 - 3:24pm
Excerpt:
The attached Changing Earth flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of the history of planet Earth and an activity involving the use of a rope as a timeline to represents the Earth’s history from the present to 65 million years ago.
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
March 16, 2012 - 3:26pm
Excerpt:
The attached Ice Sheets flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of information about ice sheets in both the Arctic and Antarctica, followed by an activity which allows students to make their own realistic model of an ice sheet with commonly...
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
March 22, 2012 - 6:39am
Excerpt:
The attached Lands and Life flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of terrestrial polar ecosystems, from southern cold maritime islands to dry continental deserts in Antarctica and from tree line across the continental tundra to remote northern...
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
May 31, 2012 - 6:28am
Excerpt:
The attached Polar Oceans flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, provides summary information about the Polar Oceans and describes how the circulation in polar waters exerts a powerful control on the Earth's climate and carbon cycle. Activities attached to the flyer...
Completion Time:
Less than 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
July 24, 2012 - 7:03am
Excerpt:
People have lived in the Arctic for many millennia, developing skills, strategies, and community knowledge to survive polar conditions. The attached flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, summarizes some of the present issues of concern for residents of the Arctic,...
Completion Time:
About a week
Grade Level:
All Ages
Updated:
July 24, 2012 - 6:43am
Excerpt:
Sea ice, the thin layer of ice that covers most of the Arctic Ocean and surrounds most of the Antarctic continent, represents a distinctive feature of our planet. The attached flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of information about sea ice...
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Title:
Polar Week Unit Plan
Updated:
June 18, 2012 - 6:38am
Date:
Sun, 03/18/2012 - Sat, 03/24/2012
Excerpt:
This polar-themed unit plan provides a resource for teachers looking for ways to integrate a variety of challenging lessons and activities into their curriculum. The lessons touch on a variety of subject areas including language arts, math, and science. The unit is designed for a 3rd grade class...
Completion Time:
More than a week
Grade Level:
Elementary and Up
Updated:
February 21, 2013 - 5:25pm
Excerpt:
Overview
Wilderness Research Foundation (USA) has developed two teaching modules based on a project we conducted in the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2010. They're available free for any educator interested in reviewing them for classroom use. The project concerned the collection of soil samples...
Completion Time:
Less than a week
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Updated:
November 4, 2012 - 6:53am
Excerpt:
Overview
Wilderness Research Foundation (USA) has developed two teaching modules based on a project we conducted in the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2010. They're available free for any educator interested in reviewing them for classroom use. The project concerned the collection of soil samples...
Completion Time:
Less than a week
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Updated:
September 23, 2012 - 10:39am
Excerpt:
Purpose
To compare the conductivity of freshwater and seawater. This is a lab activity, and students should be taught appropriate safety measures, including eye protection and safety while using electricity.
Procedure
Use the table in attached PDF to record your data.
Put 100 mL of 3.5% NaCl...
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Updated:
August 28, 2012 - 10:52am
Excerpt:
Purpose
To learn about the effects of air pollution on Sea Ice. This can be a library/computer lab-based activity.
Procedure
Teacher:
Mix up a 3.5% solution of NaCl. Make enough "sea-ice" cubes for each pair of students
Make another class set of ice cubes with tap water. Leave the ice in...
Completion Time:
Less than a week
Grade Level:
Middle School and Up
Updated:
April 3, 2013 - 6:37am
Excerpt:
Purpose
Glaciers are slow-moving masses of ice that exist where more snow falls than melts. They occupy about 10% of the Earth’s land, mostly in Greenland and Antarctica. Here, glaciers can be as much as 2 miles thick and weigh more than millions of tons. As they move, glaciers can widen and...
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Grade Level:
All Ages
Presentation
Updated:
March 7, 2012 - 6:04pm
Date:
Mon, 12/05/2011 - Fri, 12/09/2011
Excerpt:
Poster presentation by the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, UK, originally presented at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in 2011. The Polar Museum Education and Outreach program aims to bring the research work of the Scott Polar Research Institute staff to a...
Grade Level:
All Ages
Article
Updated:
March 12, 2012 - 3:50pm
Publication:
The Biology of the Polar Regions
Excerpt:
Chapter 2 of The Biology of the Polar Regions. An accessible supplementary text suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in polar ecology.
Grade Level:
High school and Up
Event
Updated:
April 3, 2012 - 5:45pm
Date:
Tue, 03/20/2012
Excerpt:
This is a one hour webinar event held in collaboration with APECS for Polar Week. On 20 March 2012 young scientists Meagan Grabowski and Piotr Angiel spoke with students about their work in polar science.
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Updated:
August 15, 2012 - 3:29pm
Date:
Thu, 03/22/2012
Excerpt:
This is a one hour webinar event held in collaboration with APECS for Polar Week. On 22 March 2012 young scientists Jennifer Provencher and Piotr Angiel spoke with students about their work in polar science.
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Updated:
September 21, 2012 - 3:19pm
Date:
Thu, 09/20/2012
Excerpt:
This one hour long event features researchers Karita Negandhi, Brittany Potter, John Lenters, and Reny Tyson. Karita has a marine biology background but currently studying Arctic thaw ponds, while Brittany and John study lakes in Barrow, Alaska and Reny studies humpback whales in Antarctica. This...
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Updated:
September 21, 2012 - 3:33pm
Date:
Thu, 09/20/2012
Excerpt:
This one hour webinar is part of the International Polar Week celebrations sponsored by APECS, ARCUS and PEI. The presenters are young scientists that work in the Polar Regions. They shared information about their work as well as how they became interested in polar science.
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Updated:
November 5, 2012 - 2:17pm
Date:
Mon, 09/17/2012
Excerpt:
This one hour webinar is hosted by Polar Educators International for Polar Week - Fall 2012. Speakers are educators from the US and Canada sharing ideas for bringing polar science in classrooms. This webinar is for both educators and researchers.
Completion Time:
About 1 period
Related Members:
Image
Updated:
June 28, 2012 - 3:00pm
Date:
Fri, 06/01/2012 - Fri, 07/06/2012
Excerpt:
Display at Macon County Library while my expedition is ongoing. Also includes a few hundred bookmarks with expedition address on it
Related Expeditions:
Tundra Nutrient Seasonality
Related Members:
| Type | Title | Excerpt | Completion Time | Grade Level | Link |
Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activity | How is Glacier Goo Similar to a Real Glacier? | Purpose Glaciers are slow-moving masses of ice that exist where more snow falls than melts. They occupy about 10% of the Earth’s land, mostly in Greenland and Antarctica. Here, glaciers can be as much as 2 miles thick and weigh more than millions of tons. As they move, glaciers can widen and... | About 1 period | All Ages | 3 April 2013 | |
| Web Link | Icy IPY! - Polar Classroom Activities from the International Polar Year | Icy IPY activities can be downloaded in word documents and tried in your classroom. From 'Blubber Gloves' to 'Experiments with Ice and Snow', there are a wealth of different activities to introduce students to the Polar Regions or complement their existing knowledge of the Poles. The International... | All Ages | 20 March 2013 | ||
| Activity | Sediment Tubes | Students will observe how soils and rocks of different densities behave in wind and in water. They will make predictions and careful observations as they learn about sediment transport and sediment rates in streams and rivers. | About 1 period | Middle School and Up | 20 March 2013 | |
| Activity | Fat Birds, Skinny Birds: How Blubber Keeps Penguins Warm | Students experiment with a “blubber glove” to experience how insulation affects heat transfer, and how the adaptation of blubber helps penguins as well as seals, whales and walruses survive in bitterly cold waters. | About 1 period | All Ages | 20 March 2013 | |
| Lesson | Family Polar Fun Day | Overview Plan and run a family fun afternoon or evening with several hands-on activities. Students help run the activity stations and share what they have learned about the Polar Regions. A great culminating activity for a unit on the Arctic, Antarctica, or both, and a fun way to involve families... | Less than a week | Elementary and Up | 13 March 2013 | |
| Web Link | National Geographic Polar Regions MapMaker Kits | MapMaker Kits offer K-12 students the opportunity to work with key mapping concepts at a variety of scales and to see the world in new ways. Unique large-scale maps and activities engage students in the manipulation and analysis of a variety of geographic information sets, helping them build skills... | All Ages | National Geographic Polar Regions Map Maker Kit | 8 March 2013 | |
| Activity | Photosynthesis, Decomposition and the "Buried Carbon" Hypothesis | Overview Wilderness Research Foundation (USA) has developed two teaching modules based on a project we conducted in the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2010. They're available free for any educator interested in reviewing them for classroom use. The project concerned the collection of soil samples... | Less than a week | Middle School and Up | Wilderness Research Foundation | 21 February 2013 |
| Event | Make Broader Impacts in Polar Science | This one hour webinar is hosted by Polar Educators International for Polar Week - Fall 2012. Speakers are educators from the US and Canada sharing ideas for bringing polar science in classrooms. This webinar is for both educators and researchers. | About 1 period | 5 November 2012 | ||
| Activity | Where in the World is King George Island? (Understanding the Geography) | Overview Wilderness Research Foundation (USA) has developed two teaching modules based on a project we conducted in the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2010. They're available free for any educator interested in reviewing them for classroom use. The project concerned the collection of soil samples... | Less than a week | Middle School and Up | 4 November 2012 | |
| Lesson | Polar Detectives: Using Ice Core Data to Decode Past Climate Mysteries | Teacher Notes Students investigate the formation, physical and chemical properties of ice cores to determine the cause of a discrepant event. Key Concept Scientists analyze ice cores for evidence of climate history. Background This activity is based on known events: 1783's Laki volcano in... | About a week | Middle School and Up | 17 October 2012 | |
| Activity | Conductivity of Freshwater vs. Seawater | Purpose To compare the conductivity of freshwater and seawater. This is a lab activity, and students should be taught appropriate safety measures, including eye protection and safety while using electricity. Procedure Use the table in attached PDF to record your data. Put 100 mL of 3.5% NaCl... | About 1 period | Middle School and Up | 23 September 2012 | |
| Event | Polar Week: Connecting to the Poles with Brittany Potter, John Lenters, Reny Tyson and Karita Negandhi | This one hour webinar is part of the International Polar Week celebrations sponsored by APECS, ARCUS and PEI. The presenters are young scientists that work in the Polar Regions. They shared information about their work as well as how they became interested in polar science. | About 1 period | 21 September 2012 | ||
| Event | Polar Week: Connecting to the Poles with Allen Pope and Anne-Mathilde Thierry | This one hour long event features researchers Karita Negandhi, Brittany Potter, John Lenters, and Reny Tyson. Karita has a marine biology background but currently studying Arctic thaw ponds, while Brittany and John study lakes in Barrow, Alaska and Reny studies humpback whales in Antarctica. This... | About 1 period | 21 September 2012 | ||
| Activity | The Effects of Air Pollution on the Melting of Polar Ice | Purpose To learn about the effects of air pollution on Sea Ice. This can be a library/computer lab-based activity. Procedure Teacher: Mix up a 3.5% solution of NaCl. Make enough "sea-ice" cubes for each pair of students Make another class set of ice cubes with tap water. Leave the ice in... | Less than a week | Middle School and Up | 28 August 2012 | |
| Event | Polar Week - Connecting to the Poles 2 | This is a one hour webinar event held in collaboration with APECS for Polar Week. On 22 March 2012 young scientists Jennifer Provencher and Piotr Angiel spoke with students about their work in polar science. | About 1 period | 15 August 2012 | ||
| Activity | Sun Shadows Project - Italy, Belgium, Global! | Introduction Join the International Sun Shadows Project! - Pupils and teachers all over the world will join forces to measure the shadows of a 1m long stick. Participation in the project is free and open to all! Teachers, students and scientists from around the world are encouraged to join in and... | Less than a week | Middle School and Up | Sun Shadows Project | 14 August 2012 |
| Activity | People at the Poles Activity: What Makes a Community? | People have lived in the Arctic for many millennia, developing skills, strategies, and community knowledge to survive polar conditions. The attached flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, summarizes some of the present issues of concern for residents of the Arctic,... | About a week | All Ages | 24 July 2012 | |
| Activity | Sea Ice Activity: What Happens When it Melts? | Sea ice, the thin layer of ice that covers most of the Arctic Ocean and surrounds most of the Antarctic continent, represents a distinctive feature of our planet. The attached flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of information about sea ice... | About 1 period | All Ages | 24 July 2012 | |
| Image | Macon County,NC - Public Library Display | Display at Macon County Library while my expedition is ongoing. Also includes a few hundred bookmarks with expedition address on it | 28 June 2012 | |||
| Activity | Polar Week Unit Plan | This polar-themed unit plan provides a resource for teachers looking for ways to integrate a variety of challenging lessons and activities into their curriculum. The lessons touch on a variety of subject areas including language arts, math, and science. The unit is designed for a 3rd grade class... | More than a week | Elementary and Up | 18 June 2012 | |
| Activity | Polar Oceans Activity: What’s For Lunch? | The attached Polar Oceans flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, provides summary information about the Polar Oceans and describes how the circulation in polar waters exerts a powerful control on the Earth's climate and carbon cycle. Activities attached to the flyer... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | 31 May 2012 | |
| Web Link | Animation about the Polar Night: Available in English, Dutch, and French | This detailed animation shows how the Earth is lit by the Sun throughout the year. The lighting of the Arctic and the Antarctic is detailed for every month of the year to help explain, among other things, the resulting polar night. The animation is available in the following languages: English:... | Elementary and Up | Polar Nights - EducaPoles | 15 May 2012 | |
| Video | Tunnel Man - Episode 2 - Permafrost Monitoring | Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | View Original | 7 May 2012 |
| Web Link | Interactive animation showing the size of Antarctica relative to other continents | Explore this interactive animation showing the size of Antarctica relative to other continents and countries. This resource was developed by the Italian educational project in the context of ANDRILL (Antarctic Geological drilling) research. The site is in Italian but the animation can be used... | All Ages | Progetto Smilla and IPrase Trentino | 9 April 2012 | |
| Event | Polar Week - Connecting to the Poles 1 | This is a one hour webinar event held in collaboration with APECS for Polar Week. On 20 March 2012 young scientists Meagan Grabowski and Piotr Angiel spoke with students about their work in polar science. | About 1 period | 3 April 2012 | ||
| Web Link | Polar Resource Book - Polar Science and Global Climate: An International Resource for Education and Outreach | The Polar Resource Book - Polar Science and Global Climate: An International Resource for Education & Outreach - was written to ensure that the efforts catalyzed by the International Polar Year (IPY) will continue to inspire educators, students, and emerging polar researchers with a shared... | All Ages | Pearson Bookshop | 29 March 2012 | |
| Web Link | Exhibit Antarctica's Climate Secrets - Order a Flexhibit! | What's a Flexhibit? A Flexhibit is a Flexible Exhibit package that contains a set of hands-on learning activities, attractive banner graphics, and video podcasts that make it possible for groups of 10- to 15- year olds to engage in both learning and teaching. Groups of students can complete the... | Middle School and Up | Antarctica's Climate Secrets | 26 March 2012 | |
| Web Link | Mystery Class: Tracking Sunlight to Solve a Mystery | Mystery Class is a global game of hide-and-seek. Follow photoperiod clues to search for ten secret sites around the world. Track sunlight to solve a mystery! Discover the reasons for seasons along the way. | All Ages | Journey North Mystery Class | 26 March 2012 | |
| Activity | Polar Lands and Life Activity: Permafrost Demonstration | The attached Lands and Life flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of terrestrial polar ecosystems, from southern cold maritime islands to dry continental deserts in Antarctica and from tree line across the continental tundra to remote northern... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | 22 March 2012 | |
| Web Link | Progetto Smilla - ANDRILL's Italian Educational Project | This website is an English translation of some of the sections of the progettosmilla.it website, the Italian educational project of ANDRILL, an Antarctic International Scientific Research project. The site includes a blog from Antarctica, descriptions of ANDRILL research geared to students and... | Middle School and Up | Progetto Smilla - ANDRILL's Italian Educational Project | 21 March 2012 | |
| Web Link | Museo Nazionale Antartide - Italian National Museum | Learn more about Polar Week and research on the southern continent through the website of the Italian National Museum (Museo Nazionale Antartide). Note: The website is in Italian. | All Ages | Museo Nazionale Antartide | 21 March 2012 | |
| Web Link | Penguin Science - Marching Into the Classroom! | This web site offers in-depth information on all manner of penguin life - photos, animations, and live penguin cams will delight viewers of all ages. Follow the link to 'Penguins Marching into the Classroom' for penguin-related educational activities, picture galleries, journals, and skill testing... | All Ages | Penguin Science | 20 March 2012 | |
| Lesson | Polar Scientists: Polar Science | Overview Elizabeth Eubanks PolarTREC teacher 2008 – Arctic Tundra Dynamics created this lesson to introduce her students to a wide variety of polar scientists and their research. Students will use the PolarTREC and other websites to learn about the various research projects that are going on at... | Less than a week | All Ages | 20 March 2012 | |
| Web Link | ANDRILL Project Iceberg International Video Journals | ANDRILL (ANtarctic geological DRILLing) has drilled and recovered thousands of meters of rock core from beneath the McMurdo Ice Shelf in Antarctica. What secrets are hidden in this rock? Why do scientists from around the world work together to uncover these secrets that have been shrouded beneath... | All Ages | ANDRILL Project Iceberg | 16 March 2012 | |
| Activity | Ice Sheet Activity: Make an 'Ice' Sheet | The attached Ice Sheets flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of information about ice sheets in both the Arctic and Antarctica, followed by an activity which allows students to make their own realistic model of an ice sheet with commonly... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | 16 March 2012 | |
| Activity | Changing Earth Activity: Make a Timeline | The attached Changing Earth flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of the history of planet Earth and an activity involving the use of a rope as a timeline to represents the Earth’s history from the present to 65 million years ago. | Less than 1 period | All Ages | 16 March 2012 | |
| Activity | Above the Poles - Weather Observation | This PDF handout and activity provides background information about polar weather and climate followed by an activity to help students consider their own local weather vs. polar weather. Students will observe the weather where they live and report on basic meteorological data such as air... | About 1 period | Middle School and Up | 16 March 2012 | |
| Web Link | Arctic Climate Modeling Program | The Arctic Climate Modeling Program (ACMP) provides curriculum-based arctic resources for use with K-12 students. Resources include inquiry-based classroom lessons, a student network for observing arctic weather (S.N.O.W.) , digital lectures, and an interactive multimedia learning system (on DVD... | All Ages | Arctic Climate Modeling Program | 14 March 2012 | |
| Article | Introduction to the Polar Regions | Chapter 2 of The Biology of the Polar Regions. An accessible supplementary text suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in polar ecology. | High school and Up | Introduction to the Polar Regions | 12 March 2012 | |
| Presentation | Cool Club Poster: Young Minds and Polar Researchers - United Kingdom | Poster presentation by the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, UK, originally presented at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in 2011. The Polar Museum Education and Outreach program aims to bring the research work of the Scott Polar Research Institute staff to a... | All Ages | 7 March 2012 | ||
| Video | Polar Science at 62ºS - Permafrost Video - Portugal | Permafrost is a key cryospheric component and of global interest for better understanding climate change. This short film presents an overview of permafrost on Earth and focuses on the International Polar Year (IPY) activities of a research group from the University of Lisbon and its international... | Less than 1 period | Middle School and Up | View Original | 7 March 2012 |
| Video | Diário de Bordo / On board Diary - Portugal | A young marine biologist from Portugal shows the science, the beauty and the importance of the polar regions to the planet from a research cruise en route to Antarctica. Film is primarily in Portuguese with some English. | Less than 1 period | Elementary and Up | View Original | 7 March 2012 |
| Video | Tunnel Man - Episode 4 - Geomorphology | Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | View Original | 7 March 2012 |
| Video | Tunnel Man - Episode 3 - Active Layer Monitoring | Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | View Original | 7 March 2012 |
| Video | Tunnel Man Episode 1 - Ice in Permafrost | Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | View Original | 7 March 2012 |
| Web Link | Science and the Polar Regions Introduction | Polar science is a topic both your students and you can get into. This publication gives you a variety of angles to choose from in implementing a study of polar science. This resource was created under a National Science Foundation Grant by Middle School Portal 2: Math & Science Pathways. | Elementary and Up | Science and the Polar Regions Introduction | 28 February 2012 | |
| Video | Arctic Food Webs in the Context of Climate Change - Video | Professor Cynthia de Wit of Stockholm University explains the concept of biomagnification of persistant organic pollutants in arctic marine ecosystems. This video comes from the APECS (Association for Polar Early Career Scientists) webinar library. | Less than 1 period | View Original | 28 February 2012 | |
| Lesson | Polar Profiles | Overview Students will develop an understanding of what it takes to interview scientists, and take the corresponding data and reformat it into an electronic medium. Objective Students will be able to write questions to scientists in the field, interview, take the data collected, and convert to... | About a week | Middle School and Up | 21 February 2012 |
| Title | Excerpt | Completion Time | Grade Level | Link | Updated | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Polar Week: Connecting to the Poles with Brittany Potter, John Lenters, Reny Tyson and Karita Negandhi | This one hour webinar is part of the International Polar Week celebrations sponsored by APECS, ARCUS and PEI. The presenters are young scientists that work in the Polar Regions. They shared information about their work as well as how they became interested in polar science. | About 1 period | View Resource | September 21, 2012 - 3:33pm | ||
| Event | Polar Week: Connecting to the Poles with Allen Pope and Anne-Mathilde Thierry | This one hour long event features researchers Karita Negandhi, Brittany Potter, John Lenters, and Reny Tyson. Karita has a marine biology background but currently studying Arctic thaw ponds, while Brittany and John study lakes in Barrow, Alaska and Reny studies humpback whales in Antarctica. This... | About 1 period | View Resource | September 21, 2012 - 3:19pm | ||
| Event | Make Broader Impacts in Polar Science | This one hour webinar is hosted by Polar Educators International for Polar Week - Fall 2012. Speakers are educators from the US and Canada sharing ideas for bringing polar science in classrooms. This webinar is for both educators and researchers. | About 1 period | View Resource | November 5, 2012 - 2:17pm | ||
| Image | Macon County,NC - Public Library Display | Display at Macon County Library while my expedition is ongoing. Also includes a few hundred bookmarks with expedition address on it | View Resource | June 28, 2012 - 3:00pm | |||
| Event | Polar Week - Connecting to the Poles 2 | This is a one hour webinar event held in collaboration with APECS for Polar Week. On 22 March 2012 young scientists Jennifer Provencher and Piotr Angiel spoke with students about their work in polar science. | About 1 period | View Resource | August 15, 2012 - 3:29pm | ||
| Event | Polar Week - Connecting to the Poles 1 | This is a one hour webinar event held in collaboration with APECS for Polar Week. On 20 March 2012 young scientists Meagan Grabowski and Piotr Angiel spoke with students about their work in polar science. | About 1 period | View Resource | April 3, 2012 - 5:45pm | ||
| Activity | Polar Week Unit Plan | This polar-themed unit plan provides a resource for teachers looking for ways to integrate a variety of challenging lessons and activities into their curriculum. The lessons touch on a variety of subject areas including language arts, math, and science. The unit is designed for a 3rd grade class... | More than a week | Elementary and Up | View Resource | June 18, 2012 - 6:38am | |
| Web Link | Museo Nazionale Antartide - Italian National Museum | Learn more about Polar Week and research on the southern continent through the website of the Italian National Museum (Museo Nazionale Antartide). Note: The website is in Italian. | All Ages | Museo Nazionale Antartide | View Resource | March 21, 2012 - 1:50pm | |
| Video | Polar Science at 62ºS - Permafrost Video - Portugal | Permafrost is a key cryospheric component and of global interest for better understanding climate change. This short film presents an overview of permafrost on Earth and focuses on the International Polar Year (IPY) activities of a research group from the University of Lisbon and its international... | Less than 1 period | Middle School and Up | View Original | View Resource | March 7, 2012 - 6:03pm |
| Video | Diário de Bordo / On board Diary - Portugal | A young marine biologist from Portugal shows the science, the beauty and the importance of the polar regions to the planet from a research cruise en route to Antarctica. Film is primarily in Portuguese with some English. | Less than 1 period | Elementary and Up | View Original | View Resource | March 7, 2012 - 6:01pm |
| Activity | Sun Shadows Project - Italy, Belgium, Global! | Introduction Join the International Sun Shadows Project! - Pupils and teachers all over the world will join forces to measure the shadows of a 1m long stick. Participation in the project is free and open to all! Teachers, students and scientists from around the world are encouraged to join in and... | Less than a week | Middle School and Up | Sun Shadows Project | View Resource | August 14, 2012 - 5:04pm |
| Presentation | Cool Club Poster: Young Minds and Polar Researchers - United Kingdom | Poster presentation by the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, UK, originally presented at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in 2011. The Polar Museum Education and Outreach program aims to bring the research work of the Scott Polar Research Institute staff to a... | All Ages | View Resource | March 7, 2012 - 6:04pm | ||
| Web Link | Polar Resource Book - Polar Science and Global Climate: An International Resource for Education and Outreach | The Polar Resource Book - Polar Science and Global Climate: An International Resource for Education & Outreach - was written to ensure that the efforts catalyzed by the International Polar Year (IPY) will continue to inspire educators, students, and emerging polar researchers with a shared... | All Ages | Pearson Bookshop | View Resource | March 29, 2012 - 5:33am | |
| Video | Tunnel Man - Episode 4 - Geomorphology | Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | View Original | View Resource | March 7, 2012 - 6:00pm |
| Video | Tunnel Man - Episode 3 - Active Layer Monitoring | Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | View Original | View Resource | March 7, 2012 - 5:55pm |
| Video | Tunnel Man - Episode 2 - Permafrost Monitoring | Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | View Original | View Resource | May 7, 2012 - 5:51am |
| Video | Tunnel Man Episode 1 - Ice in Permafrost | Tunnel Man is a super hero who lives in Ice Tunnels, and teaches children and adults about the unique geomorphology of Alaska. Tunnel Man is played by Kenji Yoshikawa, a Research Associate Professor for the Institute of Northern Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Tunnel Man's... | Less than 1 period | All Ages | View Original | View Resource | March 7, 2012 - 5:53pm |
| Activity | How is Glacier Goo Similar to a Real Glacier? | Purpose Glaciers are slow-moving masses of ice that exist where more snow falls than melts. They occupy about 10% of the Earth’s land, mostly in Greenland and Antarctica. Here, glaciers can be as much as 2 miles thick and weigh more than millions of tons. As they move, glaciers can widen and... | About 1 period | All Ages | View Resource | April 3, 2013 - 6:37am | |
| Activity | Fat Birds, Skinny Birds: How Blubber Keeps Penguins Warm | Students experiment with a “blubber glove” to experience how insulation affects heat transfer, and how the adaptation of blubber helps penguins as well as seals, whales and walruses survive in bitterly cold waters. | About 1 period | All Ages | View Resource | March 20, 2013 - 10:35am | |
| Activity | Sediment Tubes | Students will observe how soils and rocks of different densities behave in wind and in water. They will make predictions and careful observations as they learn about sediment transport and sediment rates in streams and rivers. | About 1 period | Middle School and Up | View Resource | March 20, 2013 - 10:35am | |
| Web Link | Icy IPY! - Polar Classroom Activities from the International Polar Year | Icy IPY activities can be downloaded in word documents and tried in your classroom. From 'Blubber Gloves' to 'Experiments with Ice and Snow', there are a wealth of different activities to introduce students to the Polar Regions or complement their existing knowledge of the Poles. The International... | All Ages | View Resource | March 20, 2013 - 10:35am | ||
| Lesson | Family Polar Fun Day | Overview Plan and run a family fun afternoon or evening with several hands-on activities. Students help run the activity stations and share what they have learned about the Polar Regions. A great culminating activity for a unit on the Arctic, Antarctica, or both, and a fun way to involve families... | Less than a week | Elementary and Up | View Resource | March 13, 2013 - 5:46am | |
| Web Link | National Geographic Polar Regions MapMaker Kits | MapMaker Kits offer K-12 students the opportunity to work with key mapping concepts at a variety of scales and to see the world in new ways. Unique large-scale maps and activities engage students in the manipulation and analysis of a variety of geographic information sets, helping them build skills... | All Ages | National Geographic Polar Regions Map Maker Kit | View Resource | March 8, 2013 - 11:54pm | |
| Activity | Photosynthesis, Decomposition and the "Buried Carbon" Hypothesis | Overview Wilderness Research Foundation (USA) has developed two teaching modules based on a project we conducted in the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2010. They're available free for any educator interested in reviewing them for classroom use. The project concerned the collection of soil samples... | Less than a week | Middle School and Up | Wilderness Research Foundation | View Resource | February 21, 2013 - 5:25pm |
| Activity | Where in the World is King George Island? (Understanding the Geography) | Overview Wilderness Research Foundation (USA) has developed two teaching modules based on a project we conducted in the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2010. They're available free for any educator interested in reviewing them for classroom use. The project concerned the collection of soil samples... | Less than a week | Middle School and Up | View Resource | November 4, 2012 - 6:53am |
