Students will develop research questions that will help them develop an ecosystem profile (species/conditions etc.) of a local pond. Their results will be compared with data from the McMurdo Dry Valley Lakes in Antarctica. Discussions about climate and energy dynamics will be conducted as conclusions are drawn. A map and key for the local pond (species/locations/conditions) will be
Using photos from a variety of websites, including the PolarTREC and SCINI websites, students will identify organisms to phylum and/or class level (e.g. polychaetes, starfish, brittle stars, sponges) and then research the primary foods that these organisms eat. They will then develop a simple food web for these organisms.
Article about teacher, Robin Ellwood and her expedition to Antarctica, 2008. From The New Hampshire, a student-run newspaper with the University of New Hampshire.
This web site has terrific information about Antarctica and learning resources. The site focuses on signals of global climate changes that are seen in ice cores from Antarctica.
This website has a treasure trove of resources for you to create innovated lessons using the best resources available. The resources have been selected from those suggested by users from around the country. You also appreciate the way the resources have been categorized so that you can easily search for what you want.
Learners from 6th – 12th grade will investigate different science projects in Antarctica through the PolarTREC and the USAP websites. They will then make a short PowerPoint (or similar) presentation to the rest of the class. Learners can work independently or in small groups.
Objective
Students will become familiar with the wide variety of science that occurs