Classroom activities

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  • Albedo: measuring the reflective properties of different surfaces
    EN
    Students measure the albedo and surface temperature of various ice surfaces and changing processes as the ice melts over time. Students apply what they’ve learned in the experiment to the understanding of albedo, and the role albedo plays in the Earth’s energy budget.
    Category
    Atmosphere
    Level
    Middle School
    Developer
    U.S. Ice Drilling Program
  • Arctic Climate Curriculum: Do you really want to visit the Arctic?
    EN
    This jigsaw activity is designed for students to become familiar with several datasets of Arctic weather data, collected in Eureka on Ellesmere Island. Students join a role-playing activity to read and interpret graphs while considering the optimal time to plan a research mission to the Arctic.
    Category
    Atmosphere
    Level
    High School Undergraduate
    Developer
    CIRES
  • Arctic Climate Curriculum: Exploring Arctic Climate Data
    EN
    Students dig into authentic Arctic climate data to unravel some causes and effects related to the seasonal melting of the snowpack. In particular, students learn about albedo and its relationship to snowmelt. This concept applied to global climate change on a large scale as well, and students go on to learn about the role of albedo as a self-reinforcing feedback mechanism.
    Category
    AtmosphereClimate Change
    Level
    High School Undergraduate
    Developer
    CIRES
  • Arctic Climate Curriculum: Exploring the Arctic
    EN
    This activity introduces students to the Arctic, including different definitions of the Arctic and exploration of the Arctic environment and Arctic people. Students set out on a virtual exploration of the geography of the Arctic using Google Earth. Students go on to learn about meteorological parameters that are measured by Arctic research teams and practice the measurements in hands-on activities.
    Category
    Geography
    Level
    Middle School High School Undergraduate
    Developer
    CIRES
  • Arctic Ocean Exploration: Being Productive in the Arctic Ocean
    EN
    Students analyze sea ice cover, nutrient, and primary productivity data to understand factors that may limit primary productivity in the Arctic Ocean.
    Category
    EcosystemOcean
    Level
    High School
    Developer
    NOAA
  • Arctic Ocean Exploration: Current Events
    EN
    Using authentic data and two hands on activities, students explore the driving forces for ocean currents, with a focus on the Arctic Ocean.
    Category
    Ocean
    Level
    High School
    Developer
    NOAA
  • Arctic Ocean Exploration: Would You Like a Sample?
    EN
    Students simulate a sampling of Arctic marine biology communities to learn about the limitations of biologic sampling techniques and marine biodiversity in the Arctic Ocean.
    Category
    EcosystemOcean
    Level
    Middle School
    Developer
    NOAA
  • Arctic SMARTIC (Strategic Management of Resources in Times of Change)
    EN
    Students will build off of an introductory presentation on climate change in the Arctic to devise a strategy to manage climate change impacts on a global scale (the Arctic). After a brief synopsis on current issues and management approaches in the Arctic, students will use information based on the stakeholders and interests they've identified in readings done before class, to pinpoint areas of high interest, negotiate conflicts, and develop a sustainable, multi-stakeholder management plan for high priority areas. The net effect on students will be to: (1) understand the complex web of stakeholder interests and scientific issues (2) learn how to devise a strategic plan for a global issue and an area of significant socio-economic, political, and environmental importance.
    Category
    Geopolitics
    Level
    High School
    Developer
    PoLAR CCEP
  • Atmosphere Layers & Greenhouse Effect Model Activity
    EN
    Students learn how models are constructed and how they work using a gameboard activity to represent the layers of Earth’s atmosphere and the greenhouse effect.
    Category
    AtmosphereClimate ChangeModeling
    Level
    Middle School High School
    Developer
    UCAR Center for Science Education
  • Cold Cases: Who Won the Race to the North Pole – Cook or Peary?
    EN
    Students use primary sources to conduct a mock trial to debate whether Cook or Peary was the first explorer to reach the North Pole.
    Category
    Historic Expeditions
    Level
    High School
    Developer
    Ohio State University
  • Create Classroom Ice Cores
    EN
    Students analyze two different ice core models (made of layers of ice frozen in pringles cans) to observe changes in past climates.
    Category
    Climate ChangeSea Ice
    Level
    Middle School
    Developer
    Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center
  • Design and Build a Sea Ice Drifter
    EN
    In an engineering design challenge, students learn about sea ice and sea ice observation technology to build and design their own sea ice drifter.
    Category
    Engineering
    Level
    Elementary School
    Developer
    SMILE Oregon State
  • EcoChains: Arctic Life Game
    EN
    The EcoChains Arctic Life game accurately models the effects of climate change on wildlife food-webs. The game shows how human actions such as the development of alternative energy can influence carbon pollution.
    Category
    Ecosystem
    Level
    Elementary School Middle School High School
    Developer
    Ecochains
  • Extreme Ecosystems: A Biodiversity Lesson
    EN
    Students will identify and categorize plants and animals in the Arctic with an emphasis on which animals are endangered, threatened, or a species of special concern. Students will participate in individual species studies, presentations, and an interactive class trivia game.
    Category
    Ecosystem
    Level
    Elementary School Middle School
    Developer
    Polar Bears International
  • Impacts of a Warming Arctic
    EN
    Using NASA data, students evaluate evidence for decreasing ice in the Arctic and explore the impact of global climate change on the Arctic.
    Category
    Climate ChangeSea Ice
    Level
    Middle School High School
    Developer
    NASA
  • Jelly Critters
    EN
    Students conduct research on species of gelatinous zooplankton, and learn about their importance in the Arctic food web.
    Category
    EcosystemOcean
    Level
    Elementary School
    Developer
    NOAA
  • Land Ice/Sea Ice: How does melting ice affect sea level?
    EN
    Students use a simple model to compare sea level rise due to melting land ice versus melting sea ice.
    Category
    Climate ChangeSea Ice
    Level
    Elementary School Middle School
    Developer
    U.S. Ice Drilling Program
  • Northwest Passage
    EN
    Students use Google Earth to explore changing ice conditions in the Arctic, and how these changing conditions affect shipping routes, fossil fuel extraction, geopolitics, and other Arctic issues.
    Category
    Climate ChangeGeographyGeopolitics
    Level
    High School Undergraduate
    Developer
    Glenn Richard SERC
  • One World Ocean
    EN
    In this hands-on activity, students learn about ocean currents and the difference between salt and fresh water using colored ice cubes and glasses of fresh and salt water.
    Category
    Ocean
    Level
    Elementary School
    Developer
    Teach Engineering
  • Polar Bear Tracker
    EN
    Students will explore the world of polar bear researchers through the PBI Bear Tracker webpage and the Bear Tracker PowerPoint. They will understand how polar bears are studied using radio collar tracking and track bears in real time. Through the inquiry process, create scientific investigable questions just like real researchers, and learn how you can take action to help polar bears.
    Category
    Ecosystem
    Level
    Middle School High School
    Developer
    Polar Bears International
  • Polar Bears in a Warming World:A Climate Change Lesson
    EN
    Students will locate and distinguish the four major sea ice eco-regions in the Arctic and explore the impacts of sea ice loss over time due to climate change and the en-suing threats these changes may have on the Arctic ecosystem and its inhabitants.
    Category
    Climate ChangeEcosystemSea Ice
    Level
    Elementary School Middle School
    Developer
    Polar Bears International
  • Sea Ice and Heat: A Vicious Cycle
    EN
    Students explore the different heat absorption of ice and open water using a simple experimental set up.
    Category
    Climate ChangeSea Ice
    Level
    Elementary School Middle School
    Developer
    UCAR Center for Science Education
  • Sea Ice Predictive Model
    EN
    Using sea ice extent and carbon dioxide data, students make predictions about future sea ice extent using simple statistics to evaluate a linear relationship. Students compare Arctic and Antarctic conditions.
    Category
    Climate ChangeModelingSea Ice
    Level
    High School Undergraduate
    Developer
    Joceline Boucher SERC
  • Storymap: How many North Poles does the Earth Have?
    EN
    In this story map students can explore the different north poles (e.g., geographic, magnetic).
    Category
    Geography
    Level
    Middle School High School Undergraduate
    Developer
    ESRI
  • The Very, Very Simple Climate Model
    EN
    Through a simple online model, students learn about the relationship between average global temperature and carbon dioxide emissions while predicting temperature change over the 21st Century.
    Category
    AtmosphereClimate ChangeModeling
    Level
    Middle School High School
    Developer
    UCAR Center for Science Education
  • To Drill or Not to Drill? A Case Study in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
    EN
    In a participatory problem-based activity students evaluate the impacts and benefits of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Using primary sources, students learn more about the tundra ecosystem and the Arctic, conservation biology, economic and political issues surrounding ANWR, and social perspectives on drilling in a pristine environment.
    Category
    Geopolitics
    Level
    High School Undergraduate
    Developer
    Cassandra Runyon et al. SERC
  • To the Ends of the Earth: Comparing the Arctic and Antarctic
    EN
    Students sort picture cards using a Venn diagram to find similarities and differences between the Arctic and Antarctic.
    Category
    Geography
    Level
    Elementary School
    Developer
    U.S. Ice Drilling Program
  • Top of the World
    EN
    Students will identify, locate, outline, and map the Arctic Circle, including the countries that lie within its boundaries. Students will define the Arctic region by latitude, temperature, and tree line. Students will compare and contrast the human and environmental characteristics of the North and South Poles, the equator, and their home town.
    Category
    Geography
    Level
    Elementary School Middle School
    Developer
    Polar Bears International
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