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Overview

Learn more about the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere through these multidisciplinary hands-on activities focusing on art, observation, outdoor engineering, movement, and adventure. Resources can be used in formal and informal learning environments.

Objectives

* Learners will understand the astronomical phenomenon of solstice.
* Learners identify the differences in how solstice impacts their local, sub-arctic

This is an article from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/TribLive about Mike Penn and his upcoming expedition to Antarctica.

This is a radio interview with WESA (Pittsburgh Public Radio) on "The Confluence" with PolarTREC teacher Mike Penn and Kevin Gavin. Penn's interview starts at approximately 18:05.

Overview

In this activity, students will use IB-style data-based questions centered around graphs made from data collected about arctic ground squirrels by researchers at Toolik Field Station in northern Alaska. Activity levels of ground squirrels are analyzed in relation to solar radiation and ambient temperature. Students work individually or in pairs to answer the questions.

Objectives

• Students will practice

Ice that forms in the polar oceans is an important driver behind the global climate. This ice is physically different from frozen precipitation in a number of different ways. In this brief inquiry activity, students make qualitative observations about two types of ice cubes and deduce ice composition based on their observations. This activity may serve as an introduction to

Overview: Bacteria Modeling

Objectives

Students will understand what bacteria look like with a model they create. They will also learn vocabulary associated with bacteria.

Lesson Preparation

1. KWL of a Microbiologist: knows (K), wants to know (W), and has learned (L)
2. Read book "What are Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi?" by Tripti Nainwal Pages 2 & 3
   3

Local news article promoting an upcoming talk to the SeaDoc Society with teacher Timothy Dwyer.

Newspaper article related to outreach at the Mystic Aquarium Women in Science Day. URI researchers and PolarTREC teacher Cara Pekarcik were interviewed about their upcoming research trip to Antarctica.

Quincy Access Television interview: PolarTREC teacher Cara Pekarcik talks with Joe Catalano on the Currently in Quincy Program. The conversation includes descriptions of the PolarTREC program, a description of the research project and day-to-day activities as well as a discussion about student and community outreach.

Article from the Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA) introducing the Southern Ocean Diatoms PolarTREC expedition. The article focuses on a presentation for North Quincy High School students by Dr. Bethany Jenkins. Jenkins, as well as graduates students from the University of Rhode Island spoke to students about diatoms, life on the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer and specific tools and techniques related