The Polar Regions: Arctic Lessons

Polar Protection

This Polar Connections unit helps students ages 5-10 discover how different animals are adapted for Actic climates by providing two experiments that let students learn about properties of polar bear fur, and seal/whale blubber, . Materials needed for the experiments are easily found in most homes and schools.These lessons are greatly enjoyed by students and the information provided the teacher is quite complete.

Standards: observing, comparing, design, modeling, inferring, communicating,

Sunglasses Were Invented

A Polar Connections project for elementary students that focuses on the invention of sunglasses by the Inuit. This activity which combines art and science is really a lot of fun and allows students to express their creativity.

Digging Into the Past: Respectfully

This Polar Connections project is designed for students in middle school. Through the materials provided students will engage in a group discussion that challenges them to create solutions to topical, ethical dilemmas regarding anthropological research in regions inhabited by indigenous people. There are no right answers, but the activity allows students to experience the conflict that sometime occurs between those that see a need to advance science and those who wish to preserve their traditions and land.

Standards: evaluating, public speaking, researching, problem-solving.

Going to Extremes

This Polar Connections unit designed for middle school students includes the directions for three hands-on activities. Handouts are provided where needed. This site contrasts the Arctic environment with the Antarctic environment and helps the students discover some surprising facts.

Standards: observing, comparing, recording data, interpreting, inferring, communicating

Nature's Deep Freeze

Designed for students 11 years of age and older, the two activities allow the students to model the processes of fossilization and compare the effects of four simulated environments on the preservation of organic materials. Materials are available in most homes and schools, but the fossilzation activity can be a little messy.

Standards: observing, comparing, recording data, interpreting, modeling, analyzing, inferring

This discovery lesson for elementary students has student explore similarities and differences between the Arctic and Antarctic regions by having the students sort the materials found in a simulated explorer's trunk. Students use provided informational resources to determine how to sort the materials.

Standards: observing, comparing, interpreting, inferring, problem-solving

's NSF Movie Page

• High resolution movie (sound)
• High resolution movie (subtitles)
• Low resolution movie (subtitles)

I am currently working on a video sequence for Dr. Victor Frost at the University of Kansas using a 3D animation tool known as blender. I am also using mpg tools from tmpg to convert the avi output from blender to mpeg-1 video streams. The video depicts a mobile vehicle team working on the glaciers of Greenland collecting radar data for use in climatic research.