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Social Science Collection

 Everything Human

Welcome to the Social Science Collection, a library of resources for educators and the public interested in emphasizing the use of the scientific method in the study of humanity, including quantitative and qualitative methods. The field of social science includes but is not limited to the study all aspects of society including human behavior, relationships among different groups of people, past events, anthropology, linguistics, education, and geography.

The Collection includes individual activities, lesson plans, journal entries, videos, and presentations that will educate the next generation about this complex field of study. All materials are created and compiled by world-class educators participating in authentic scientific research in the polar regions through PolarTREC expeditions.

The Social Science Collection is utilized as class material in the Cyber-based Interdisciplinary Science Education Professional Development Courses offered through the University of Alaska- Fairbanks in conjunction with PolarTREC. The collection is funded by the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States and the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs.

National Science Foundation Arctic Research Consortium of the United States University of Alaska- Fairbanks

Web Link

Updated: November 8, 2011 - 2:15pm
Excerpt: Teacher's Domain is an online educational service with two related components — Collections and Courses — that help teachers enhance their students' learning experiences and advance their own teaching skills. This collection was built to celebrate the International Polar Year. Learn about the...
Grade Level: All Ages
Updated: March 14, 2012 - 12:11pm
Author(s): Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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: October 26, 2011 - 2:36pm
Author(s): Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Excerpt: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution offers a comprehensive comparison of the polar regions with sections specific to physical features, seasons, weather, ice, plants and wildlife, human impacts, global warming, and science.
Grade Level: All Ages
Updated: October 26, 2011 - 4:39pm
Excerpt: A Thinkquest project created by students about Arctic Animals. "The world has many different animals. In the Arctic we have many animals that are unique to the north that we would like to tell you about. We have chosen some of the most unique arctic animals there are. We have stories to read,...
Grade Level: All Ages
Updated: December 14, 2011 - 7:00am
Author(s): National Earth Science Teachers Association
Excerpt: Do you wonder what Earth's Polar Regions are like? Where do polar bears live? Where do penguins swim? Why does the Sun never shine in winter in the Arctic? Why does aurora occur near the Earth’s Poles? How big are the Earth’s ice caps, and are they changing? The Earth’s Polar Regions are hosts to...
Grade Level: All Ages
Updated: October 27, 2011 - 10:40am
Author(s): U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Excerpt: Large, small, and diverse file type maps of the Arctic and Antarctica from the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. The collections of the University of Texas Libraries are the result of more than one hundred years of continuing commitment by librarians, faculty, students, and private donors to...
Grade Level: All Ages
Updated: November 2, 2011 - 4:16pm
Author(s): National Geographic
Excerpt: This video, available from National Geographic, is an overview of the earth and life science properties of the Arctic Ocean.
Grade Level: All Ages
Updated: December 15, 2011 - 4:30am
Author(s): American Society of Polar Philatelists
Excerpt: This site is dedicated to the heroic explorers of the Polar Regions and the surrounding islands. As you browse through this site, you will witness an extensive mix of reference material that will be useful to philatelists (those who study stamps and postal history) and students of polar history...
Grade Level: Middle School and Up
Updated: November 8, 2011 - 12:05pm
Author(s): Library and Archives Canada
Excerpt: The purpose of this bibliography is to provide researchers at Library and Archives Canada with a listing of primary printed sources for the study of the search for the Northwest Passage in the early nineteenth century.
Grade Level: Middle School and Up
Updated: November 8, 2011 - 12:09pm
Author(s): Lee Krystek
Excerpt: The story of Arctic explorer Matthew Henson and the race to the North Pole.
Grade Level: Elementary and Up
Updated: November 8, 2011 - 12:15pm
Author(s): Naval History and Heritage Command
Excerpt: From 1879-1881 thirty-three Navy officers, enlisted men and civilians, led by Lieutenant Commander George Washington DeLong, participated in an epic Arctic adventure that defines the limits of human will and endurance in an overwhelmingly distant and hostile environment.
Grade Level: Middle School and Up
Updated: February 28, 2012 - 3:36pm
Author(s): Middle School Portal 2: Math & Science Pathways
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 26, 2012 - 5:36am
Date: Mon, 02/27/2012
Author(s): Frontier Scientists, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Excerpt: Travel back in time as scientists and PolarTREC teacher Karl Horeis take you out to their dig sites to uncover hidden clues about early human settlement in arctic Alaska. This video is part of a larger story on the Frontier Scientists website (http://frontierscientists.com/), the University of...
Grade Level: All Ages
Title: Wow A Biface!
Updated: May 6, 2012 - 5:59pm
Date: Mon, 02/27/2012
Author(s): Frontier Scientists, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Excerpt: Share in the excitement of unearthing a biface and other archaeological treasures, as Alaskan researchers explain how they discover and document early human settlement sites across arctic Alaska. This video is part of a larger story on the Frontier Scientists website (http://frontierscientists.com...
Grade Level: All Ages
Updated: March 16, 2012 - 3:31pm
Author(s): International Polar Year Programme Office
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 29, 2012 - 5:33am
Date: Mon, 03/01/2010
Author(s): Bettina Kaiser
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
Updated: May 15, 2012 - 6:04am
Excerpt: Frontier Scientists puts you in the front row to observe breaking scientific news from leading Arctic scientists in Archaeology, Geology, Anthropology, the Humanities, Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Chemistry and more. Many videos on Arctic science are available from their website.
Grade Level: All Ages

Event

Updated: December 19, 2011 - 7:02am
Date: Fri, 12/09/2011
Excerpt: PolarTREC teacher Michelle Brown and her research team conducted this PolarConnect event from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Learn more about Michelle and her team as they study human impacts in Antarctica.
Completion Time: About 1 period
Related Expeditions: Human Impacts in Antarctica 2011

Presentation

Updated: March 7, 2012 - 6:04pm
Date: Mon, 12/05/2011 - Fri, 12/09/2011
Author(s):
Sophie Weeks
Allen Pope
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 - 3:27pm
Date: Wed, 09/05/2007
Publication: University of the Arctic Curriculum
Author(s): University of the Arctic
Excerpt: The Circumpolar World introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region.
Grade Level: High school and Up
Updated: March 12, 2012 - 3:50pm
Publication: The Biology of the Polar Regions
Author(s):
David N. Thomas
United Nations Environment Programme
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

Activity

Updated: March 16, 2012 - 3:18pm
Author(s): IPY Programme Office
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

Lesson

Updated: April 19, 2012 - 5:44am
Author(s): Chantelle Rose
Excerpt: Overview Students chose a research project, from one of seven suggested projects, to complete in class with a partner. Upon completion they will present their information to the class. Objectives Students will present a scientifically accurate project on a topic related to the PolarTREC Winter...
Completion Time: More than a week
Grade Level: Middle School and Up
Related Expeditions: Winter Sampling
Related Members:
Type Title Excerpt Completion Time Grade Level Link Updatedsort icon
Web Link Frontier Scientists Frontier Scientists puts you in the front row to observe breaking scientific news from leading Arctic scientists in Archaeology, Geology, Anthropology, the Humanities, Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Chemistry and more. Many videos on Arctic science are available from their website. All Ages 15 May 2012
Web Link Wow A Biface! Share in the excitement of unearthing a biface and other archaeological treasures, as Alaskan researchers explain how they discover and document early human settlement sites across arctic Alaska. This video is part of a larger story on the Frontier Scientists website (http://frontierscientists.com... All Ages 6 May 2012
Lesson Polar Projects Overview Students chose a research project, from one of seven suggested projects, to complete in class with a partner. Upon completion they will present their information to the class. Objectives Students will present a scientifically accurate project on a topic related to the PolarTREC Winter... More than a week Middle School and Up 19 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 29 March 2012
Web Link Time Travel in the Alaskan Arctic Travel back in time as scientists and PolarTREC teacher Karl Horeis take you out to their dig sites to uncover hidden clues about early human settlement in arctic Alaska. This video is part of a larger story on the Frontier Scientists website (http://frontierscientists.com/), the University of... All Ages 26 March 2012
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 16 March 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 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 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 12 March 2012
Article Introduction to the Circumpolar World The Circumpolar World introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region. High school and Up 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
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 28 February 2012
Event Michelle Brown and Human Impacts in Antarctica Expedition PolarTREC teacher Michelle Brown and her research team conducted this PolarConnect event from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Learn more about Michelle and her team as they study human impacts in Antarctica. About 1 period 19 December 2011
Web Link Polar Exploration Resources This site is dedicated to the heroic explorers of the Polar Regions and the surrounding islands. As you browse through this site, you will witness an extensive mix of reference material that will be useful to philatelists (those who study stamps and postal history) and students of polar history... Middle School and Up 15 December 2011
Web Link Earths Polar Regions - NESTA Do you wonder what Earth's Polar Regions are like? Where do polar bears live? Where do penguins swim? Why does the Sun never shine in winter in the Arctic? Why does aurora occur near the Earth’s Poles? How big are the Earth’s ice caps, and are they changing? The Earth’s Polar Regions are hosts to... All Ages 14 December 2011
Web Link Teachers Domain - Polar Sciences Collection Teacher's Domain is an online educational service with two related components — Collections and Courses — that help teachers enhance their students' learning experiences and advance their own teaching skills. This collection was built to celebrate the International Polar Year. Learn about the... All Ages 8 November 2011
Web Link History of the Jeannette Arctic Expedition From 1879-1881 thirty-three Navy officers, enlisted men and civilians, led by Lieutenant Commander George Washington DeLong, participated in an epic Arctic adventure that defines the limits of human will and endurance in an overwhelmingly distant and hostile environment. Middle School and Up 8 November 2011
Web Link Matthew Henson - Arctic Explorer Biography The story of Arctic explorer Matthew Henson and the race to the North Pole. Elementary and Up 8 November 2011
Web Link Arctic Exploration - Search for the Northwest Passage Bibliography The purpose of this bibliography is to provide researchers at Library and Archives Canada with a listing of primary printed sources for the study of the search for the Northwest Passage in the early nineteenth century. Middle School and Up 8 November 2011
Web Link National Geographic Video - Arctic Ocean This video, available from National Geographic, is an overview of the earth and life science properties of the Arctic Ocean. All Ages 2 November 2011
Web Link Polar Regions Maps Large, small, and diverse file type maps of the Arctic and Antarctica from the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. The collections of the University of Texas Libraries are the result of more than one hundred years of continuing commitment by librarians, faculty, students, and private donors to... All Ages 27 October 2011
Web Link Animals of the Arctic - For Students by Students A Thinkquest project created by students about Arctic Animals. "The world has many different animals. In the Arctic we have many animals that are unique to the north that we would like to tell you about. We have chosen some of the most unique arctic animals there are. We have stories to read,... All Ages 26 October 2011
Web Link Comparing the Poles Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution offers a comprehensive comparison of the polar regions with sections specific to physical features, seasons, weather, ice, plants and wildlife, human impacts, global warming, and science. All Ages 26 October 2011
Title Excerpt Completion Time Grade Level Link Updated
Web Link Wow A Biface! Share in the excitement of unearthing a biface and other archaeological treasures, as Alaskan researchers explain how they discover and document early human settlement sites across arctic Alaska. This video is part of a larger story on the Frontier Scientists website (http://frontierscientists.com... All Ages View Resource May 6, 2012 - 5:59pm
Web Link Time Travel in the Alaskan Arctic Travel back in time as scientists and PolarTREC teacher Karl Horeis take you out to their dig sites to uncover hidden clues about early human settlement in arctic Alaska. This video is part of a larger story on the Frontier Scientists website (http://frontierscientists.com/), the University of... All Ages View Resource March 26, 2012 - 5:36am
Event Michelle Brown and Human Impacts in Antarctica Expedition PolarTREC teacher Michelle Brown and her research team conducted this PolarConnect event from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Learn more about Michelle and her team as they study human impacts in Antarctica. About 1 period View Resource December 19, 2011 - 7:02am
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 View Resource March 29, 2012 - 5:33am
Article Introduction to the Circumpolar World The Circumpolar World introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region. High school and Up View Resource March 12, 2012 - 3:27pm
Web Link Frontier Scientists Frontier Scientists puts you in the front row to observe breaking scientific news from leading Arctic scientists in Archaeology, Geology, Anthropology, the Humanities, Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Chemistry and more. Many videos on Arctic science are available from their website. All Ages View Resource May 15, 2012 - 6:04am
Lesson Polar Projects Overview Students chose a research project, from one of seven suggested projects, to complete in class with a partner. Upon completion they will present their information to the class. Objectives Students will present a scientifically accurate project on a topic related to the PolarTREC Winter... More than a week Middle School and Up View Resource April 19, 2012 - 5:44am
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 16, 2012 - 3:31pm
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 View Resource March 16, 2012 - 3:18pm
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 View Resource March 14, 2012 - 12:11pm
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 View Resource March 12, 2012 - 3:50pm
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 View Resource February 28, 2012 - 3:36pm
Web Link Polar Exploration Resources This site is dedicated to the heroic explorers of the Polar Regions and the surrounding islands. As you browse through this site, you will witness an extensive mix of reference material that will be useful to philatelists (those who study stamps and postal history) and students of polar history... Middle School and Up View Resource December 15, 2011 - 4:30am
Web Link Earths Polar Regions - NESTA Do you wonder what Earth's Polar Regions are like? Where do polar bears live? Where do penguins swim? Why does the Sun never shine in winter in the Arctic? Why does aurora occur near the Earth’s Poles? How big are the Earth’s ice caps, and are they changing? The Earth’s Polar Regions are hosts to... All Ages View Resource December 14, 2011 - 7:00am
Web Link Teachers Domain - Polar Sciences Collection Teacher's Domain is an online educational service with two related components — Collections and Courses — that help teachers enhance their students' learning experiences and advance their own teaching skills. This collection was built to celebrate the International Polar Year. Learn about the... All Ages View Resource November 8, 2011 - 2:15pm
Web Link History of the Jeannette Arctic Expedition From 1879-1881 thirty-three Navy officers, enlisted men and civilians, led by Lieutenant Commander George Washington DeLong, participated in an epic Arctic adventure that defines the limits of human will and endurance in an overwhelmingly distant and hostile environment. Middle School and Up View Resource November 8, 2011 - 12:15pm
Web Link Matthew Henson - Arctic Explorer Biography The story of Arctic explorer Matthew Henson and the race to the North Pole. Elementary and Up View Resource November 8, 2011 - 12:09pm
Web Link Arctic Exploration - Search for the Northwest Passage Bibliography The purpose of this bibliography is to provide researchers at Library and Archives Canada with a listing of primary printed sources for the study of the search for the Northwest Passage in the early nineteenth century. Middle School and Up View Resource November 8, 2011 - 12:05pm
Web Link National Geographic Video - Arctic Ocean This video, available from National Geographic, is an overview of the earth and life science properties of the Arctic Ocean. All Ages View Resource November 2, 2011 - 4:16pm
Web Link Polar Regions Maps Large, small, and diverse file type maps of the Arctic and Antarctica from the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. The collections of the University of Texas Libraries are the result of more than one hundred years of continuing commitment by librarians, faculty, students, and private donors to... All Ages View Resource October 27, 2011 - 10:40am
Web Link Animals of the Arctic - For Students by Students A Thinkquest project created by students about Arctic Animals. "The world has many different animals. In the Arctic we have many animals that are unique to the north that we would like to tell you about. We have chosen some of the most unique arctic animals there are. We have stories to read,... All Ages View Resource October 26, 2011 - 4:39pm
Web Link Comparing the Poles Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution offers a comprehensive comparison of the polar regions with sections specific to physical features, seasons, weather, ice, plants and wildlife, human impacts, global warming, and science. All Ages View Resource October 26, 2011 - 2:36pm