Arctic
Travel to the icy world of the Arctic to discover the incredible wildlife and people that have adapted to life around the North Pole. In this lesson, students can complete an exercise routine, take a virtual field trip to the Arctic, model a food web, debate a complex environmental issue, and more.
© Michel Gunther / WWF
💡 Warm up
© WWF
Physical Exercise
Work Out Your Wild Side: Polar Week
Before starting the lesson, channel your students’ energy and lead an exercise routine with movements inspired by the behavior of animals such as caribou, walruses, and penguins.
© WWF
Presentation
Classroom Presentation: Arctic
For an in-your-seat alternative or in addition, introduce students to the habitats, wildlife, and people of the Arctic with the slideshow.
💻 Tech time
Virtual Field Trip to the Arctic
Project the virtual field trip video to immerse students in the Arctic world and use the trip guide to get to know the animals, people, and features of the Arctic in more depth.
Stop Arctic Drilling Cold: Keep Oil Under the Sea
Alternatively, watch the short video about Arctic drilling together. You may choose to have students write down key facts they learned while watching the video and use them to lead a discussion about the impacts of drilling on the environment.
▶️ Activities
© WWF
Modeling
It's a Matter of Energy: Arctic Food Webs
Practice visual modeling by constructing a food web.
© WWF
Reading and Writing
Protecting My Arctic Home
To lead the language arts activity, ask small groups of students to read the story of a young indigenous girl and reflect on the reading.
© Wild Classroom
Debate
Arctic Defense Team
Once students have a solid understanding of Arctic ecosystems, help students consider the complexities of Arctic drilling and lead a structured debate.
