Wildlife of the artic
| Students profile/age of the student: | 10 -12 years old… |
| Connected subject in the curriculum | Environment, school, teaching, activities, games |
| Skills and competencies to be developed | Critical thinking, content knowledge, teamwork, listening skills, decision making… |
| Terminology, keywords | Environment, environmental, Climate Change |
| Teaching techniques and tools: | Storytelling, warm-up activities, brainstorming, role games, case study… |
| Materials needed: | Video, Copies of the KWL Chart Arctic Animals Video Worksheet (one per student) Paper, Pencils, Internet access Reading, exercises, story to be told in class, topic of an essay … |
| Materials offered | pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/educators/arctic/ www.arctic.noaa.gov/faq.html www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/cc.html nsidc.org/seaice/environment/index.html |
| The time needed for the activity | approx 40 minutes |
Description
PRE-VIEWING ACTIVITIES
Use a KWL Chart with your students to examine what they know about climate change, how it affects the Arctic, and how it may affect animals in the Arctic.
Sea Ice Change – Use these images from the National Snow and Ice Data Center to examine with your students how the amount of Arctic ice varies from year to year.
The video “A Warmer World for Arctic Animals” discusses four different mammals that live in the Arctic and how climate change may affect them. Distribute a copy of the Arctic Animals Video Worksheet to each student. While they are watching the video, have students write down the issues that each animal faces due to alterations in their ecosystem resulting from a changing climate. Afterward, have students share their answers.
How does climate change affect the Arctic and its wildlife?
An increased average temperature in the Arctic has dramatic results. Glaciers become thinner and retreat at a rapid pace. There is a reduction in sea ice cover and thickness. Patterns of rainfall and snowfall shift. All of these changes affect wildlife by disrupting migration patterns, introducing competition from other species spreading northward, and impacting the availability and accessibility of food.
What can we do?
We all have the ability to reduce the amount of energy we use and therefore reduce the number of fossil fuels burned. Here are some ideas:
Use less electricity. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Turn off the television and computer when you are not using them. Unplug appliances that are not in use.
1. Wear a sweater instead of turning up the heat.
2. Walk, ride your bike or take the bus instead of driving.
3. Plant trees. They absorb carbon dioxide.
4. Limit consumption of goods. Everything we buy uses energy when manufactured and fuel when transported.
5. Buy recycled products. They take less energy to produce than new products.