To begin the Arctic unit have the students
locate Alaska using a large map of the U.S.
Explain to the children that in the winter in
Alaska there is little sunlight and it is dark
for most of the time. In the summer the days
are long and around June 21, the sun does
not set and there are several days with
continuous sunlight. This would be a good
time to discuss the seasons and activities of
each season. Explain to the children that a
part of Alaska is called the Tundra. This land
has temperatures below freezing for almost
half of the year. During the short summer,
the temperatures are warm enough for plants
to grow . A 100 year old tree may only be
one foot tall! The soil just a few inches
below the surface never thaws and it is
called permafrost.
locate Alaska using a large map of the U.S.
Explain to the children that in the winter in
Alaska there is little sunlight and it is dark
for most of the time. In the summer the days
are long and around June 21, the sun does
not set and there are several days with
continuous sunlight. This would be a good
time to discuss the seasons and activities of
each season. Explain to the children that a
part of Alaska is called the Tundra. This land
has temperatures below freezing for almost
half of the year. During the short summer,
the temperatures are warm enough for plants
to grow . A 100 year old tree may only be
one foot tall! The soil just a few inches
below the surface never thaws and it is
called permafrost.
Background information to help you teach the Unit.
Arctic/Antarctic Unit
Activity #1 - Build a classroom Igloo see winter unit
Have a discussion with the children about the Inuit or the
Eskimo people that lived in small villages along the Tundra
coast of the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Explain how
they were mainly sea hunters and used harpoons to kill seals,
walruses and whales. The whole village shared in the meat
when a large animal such as a whale was killed. In the past
they changed their home dwellings to meet different needs.
During the summer they useds animal skins to make tents
similar to teepees. During the Fall and Spring they built sod
houses known as qarmat. The were oval or rectangular
houses about five to six feet tall. Igloos were temporary
shelters for about half the year from about October until
April. Talk with the children about the fact that most
Eskimos now do NOT live in igloos anymore. But, at one
time they did.
Eskimo people that lived in small villages along the Tundra
coast of the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Explain how
they were mainly sea hunters and used harpoons to kill seals,
walruses and whales. The whole village shared in the meat
when a large animal such as a whale was killed. In the past
they changed their home dwellings to meet different needs.
During the summer they useds animal skins to make tents
similar to teepees. During the Fall and Spring they built sod
houses known as qarmat. The were oval or rectangular
houses about five to six feet tall. Igloos were temporary
shelters for about half the year from about October until
April. Talk with the children about the fact that most
Eskimos now do NOT live in igloos anymore. But, at one
time they did.
Activity #2 - Write Eskimo Stories
Take a picture of each of the students and put their faces
inside of cupcake liners. (hood of coat) Add construction
paper coat, pants, and boots and have each child write an
eskimo story to go along with their pictures.
inside of cupcake liners. (hood of coat) Add construction
paper coat, pants, and boots and have each child write an
eskimo story to go along with their pictures.
Activity #3 - Polar Bear Blubber
Experiment
Experiment
Discuss how polar bears have a layer of blubber under their fur to keep
them warm. The experiment below is a great experiment to help the
children understand how a polar bear can swim and stay warm in the icy
cold arctic ocean.
Science Experiment:
Take a baggy and fill it with shortening. Have the children place their right hand in a
bucket of ice cold water. Have them put their left hand in the baggy filled with
shortening. I have them put their left hand in an empty baggy first and then into the
baggy filled with the shortening. They then place their left hand (their polar bear
hand) into the ice cold water. Have them discuss and fill out a form explaining with
pictures and/or words and sentences the difference of temperature between their hand
and their polar bear hand.Discuss how polar bears have a layer of blubber under their
fur to keep them warm. The experiment below is a great experiment to help the
children understand how a polar bear can swim and stay warm in the icy cold arctic
ocean.
them warm. The experiment below is a great experiment to help the
children understand how a polar bear can swim and stay warm in the icy
cold arctic ocean.
Science Experiment:
Take a baggy and fill it with shortening. Have the children place their right hand in a
bucket of ice cold water. Have them put their left hand in the baggy filled with
shortening. I have them put their left hand in an empty baggy first and then into the
baggy filled with the shortening. They then place their left hand (their polar bear
hand) into the ice cold water. Have them discuss and fill out a form explaining with
pictures and/or words and sentences the difference of temperature between their hand
and their polar bear hand.Discuss how polar bears have a layer of blubber under their
fur to keep them warm. The experiment below is a great experiment to help the
children understand how a polar bear can swim and stay warm in the icy cold arctic
ocean.
Activity #4 - Penquin Fun
Antarctica - Penquin Crafts -
coming soon
Antarctica - Penquin Crafts -
coming soon
Mrs. Lynch's First Grade Classroom