Discover the diversity in the Earth Science Collection.
Discover the diversity in the Earth Science Collection.

Welcome to the Earth Science Collection, a library of resources for educators and the public interested in learning more about the diverse science disciplines that help us understand the earth's unique polar regions. The field of earth science has overlap into many disciplines and can include geology, oceanography, glaciology, and meteorology.

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 Earth 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 FoundationArctic Research Consortium of the United StatesUniversity of Alaska- Fairbanks


Displaying 176 - 200 of 265

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 commitment to outreach and education. This 250 page book edited by Bettina Kaiser and others

Web Link
Arctic
All Aged

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 learning activities in approximately 10 sessions, then use the materials and

Web Link
Antarctic
Middle School and Up

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 Polar Year is a large international effort that has involved over 200 projects

Web Link
Arctic
All Aged

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.

Article
Arctic
High school and Up
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The Circumpolar World introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region. This module gives a brief introduction to the physical features and processes of the Arctic region and highlights the significant factors that influence those features and processes. Developed by Bruce Forbes and Steve Young.

Article
Arctic
High school and Up
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This module gives a general overview of environmental issues that affect the Arctic, including climate change related themes. Compiled by Ake Bjorke, Lars Kullerud UNEP/GRID-Arendal, and Olav Hesjedal

Article
Arctic
High school and Up
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The Circumpolar World introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region.

Article
Arctic
High school and Up
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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 temperature, precipitation, wind etc. and use a weather map to compare their local weather to

Activity
Arctic
About 1 period
Middle School and Up
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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.

Activity
Antarctic
About 1 period
Middle School and Up
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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.

Web Link
Arctic
All Aged

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 in critical thinking, the representation of data, and mental mapping. Each

Web Link
Arctic
All Aged

In this video adapted from KUAC-TV and the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, learn how one-celled organisms in permafrost may be contributing to greenhouse gas levels and global warming. Investigate how soil microbes, once thought to be dormant in cold temperatures, may actually be actively decomposing organic matter throughout the Alaskan winter and contributing significant amounts of

Web Link
Arctic
Middle School and Up

NPR and National Geographic teamed up to create an animated video series that begins with the basics of Carbon as an element and with 5 episodes draws the links between carbon and our warming planet. This is a part of the Climate Connections Series

Web Link
Arctic
Elementary and Up

The Permafrost Observatory was established at Barrow under the auspices of the International Arctic Research Center (IARC). The observatory was established to compare present permafrost temperatures with those obtained during the 1950s and early 1960s by Max Brewer.

Web Link
Arctic
Middle School and Up

Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are studying the East Siberian Arctic Shelf region and finding the seafloor there holds vast stores of frozen methane and is showing signs of instability and widespread venting of the powerful greenhouse gas. In this video University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist Natalia Shakhova discusses the East Siberian Arctic Shelf area.

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
High school and Up
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In an explosive clip from the BBC's landmark series, scientists drill into a frozen lake to ignite methane gas that is trapped in bubbles beneath the surface. Do greenhouse gases pose a signficant threat to our planet? Dr Iain Stewart assesses the dangers.

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
Elementary and Up
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University of Alaska Fairbanks Professor Katey Walter Anthony takes us onto a frozen lake in Fairbanks, AK to demonstrate why methane gas has "exploded" onto the climate change scene.

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
Middle School and Up
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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 fun and educational videos were produced as part of UAF's participation in

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
All Aged
Download and Share

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 fun and educational videos were produced as part of UAF's participation in

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
All Aged
Download and Share

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 fun and educational videos were produced as part of UAF's participation in

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
All Aged
Download and Share

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 fun and educational videos were produced as part of UAF's participation in

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
All Aged
Download and Share

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 partners. Video narration in Portuguese with English subtitles.

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
Middle School and Up
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This 1 hour webinar presentation was conducted by Nell Herrmann and her team including Dr. Amsler and Dr. McClintock. The team presented from Palmer Station, Antarctica on seafloor organisms and the changing ocean conditions.

Event
Antarctic
About 1 period

PolarTREC teacher Tim Martin interview researcher Julie Brigham-Grette in regards to geologic climate research in siberia.

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
All Aged
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A message to my students on the first day of school and instructions for completing their student journals while I'm on my cruise.

Video
Arctic
Less than 1 period
All Aged
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