Topic(s):Cryosphere, Elementary (K-4), Lithosphere
Scenario:With air, land, living things and water, too. On a globe, two circles outline their spaces. Antarctica is a continent. The Arctic, it is not. North and South poles are magnetic. On a globe, each pole is just a dot. Earth's poles have polar ice caps. No, not some kind of polar hats. If you look you can see them on polar maps. Now take your time. And read this rhyme. About Earth's polar land. Can't see it much in winter though. In summer on beaches there are rocks. But could I walk there without shoes and socks? Flat, cold land in polar places. On the horizon fills polar spaces. Some polar land can be very bumpy. Do polar mountains make it lumpy? The South Pole is not all snow and ice. There's rocky land. Oh, how nice. The North Pole is all white and bare. But is there any land under there? The Rock Cycle works on polar land. Big, then little rocks turn to dirt and sand. They freeze, they thaw. They spilt and crack. In the Arctic dirt, is that a caribou track? Polar land is not much like my home. Colder and dryer with more space to roam. I think if I went there, I might get lost. If I did, could I get bitten by permafrost? Some wonder if it will it last. Antarctic ice sheets break. Floating icebergs the pieces make. In the Arctic sea ice floes. Melt in summer, in winter grow. All of us trying to understand. How will changing polar ice change polar land? Polar Land Essential Questions:
With the support of NASA and in recognition and celebration of the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008, this and other ESSEA modules focusing on polar topics have been created in hopes of increasing the awareness, understanding and interest of school-age children in polar conditions and research. To view a NASA video about IPY click here.
Date: 5/29/2009 |
Scenario Images:
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Resources:
Comparing Earth's Poles
(Cycle A)
Here are some sites to find printables for your polar book, mobile and/or diorama.
Earth Science Basics
(Cycle A)
Just About Polar Land
(Cycle B)
Antarctica's Climate Secrets
(Cycle C)
Beyond Polar Bears and Penguins
(Cycle C)
Digital Library for Earth System Science
(Cycle C)
NASA International Polar Year for Educators
(Cycle C)
Understanding Science
(Cycle C)
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Sample Investigations:
Arctic and Antarctic Land - How are they alike and how are they different?
(Cycle A)
The Top and Bottom of the World Use what you've learned from the e-books and what you can find out to complete one of the following Cycle A investigations. For Teachers Difficulty: beginner
Make a Polar Land Book
(Cycle A)
Make a Polar Land Mobile
(Cycle A)
Making a Polar Land Diorama
(Cycle A)
Polar Land Venn Diagram
(Cycle A)
Taking a Bite Out of Polar Land
(Cycle A)
Want to Connect Polar Land to Polar Ice? - Investigations Extension
(Cycle A)
What If? - Polar Land and Polar Ice Investigation Extension
(Cycle A)
Learn About Polar Land
(Cycle B)
Difficulty: beginner
Design a Polar Land Investigation
(Cycle C)
Difficulty: beginner
Standards:
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