Skip to Main Content

Changes in the Arctic Ecosystem

The ecosystems of the Arctic region are fragile due to climate change, and polar bears are facing a challenge. Learn about how they are affected and what we can do to help.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Recycled Cardboard
  • Recycled Plastic Containers

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have a discussion about climate change and the Arctic region. Talk about how polar bears rely heavily on sea ice for traveling, hunting, resting, etc. and how warming temperatures are melting this ice. What has contributed to the warming? What will happen if the trend continues? What can we do to slow the progression? Possible online resources are the WWF - the World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund) or NOAA - the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

  • Step 2

    Have students create a model of polar bears in their natural habitat. They can use Model Magic or another medium to cover recycled cardboard and use it as a snowy base and then mold the polar bears out of Model Magic. A recycled plastic container can serve as an armature for an igloo or ice cap.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to present their creations as well as information they learned about climate change and its effect on the Arctic region.

Standards

SCI: Convey designs through sketches, detailed drawings, or physical models to communicate ideas and solutions.

SCI: Use evidence to support the concept that behaviors can be influenced by the environment and the environment is impacted by behavior.

SCI: Understand that events have causes, sometimes simple and sometimes multifaceted.

Adaptations

Have students explore the difference between polar bears and grizzly bears. What are the differences in their size, diet, strength? Do they both hibernate? Do they interact?

Imagine your class has been invited to spend a month in the Arctic to study polar bears. Have students plan out the trip. How would they get there? Where would they sleep? What would they eat? What equipment would they bring?