Life Science Collection

The Memphis Flyer features Alex Eilers, manager of education for the Pink Palace Museum, who traveled more than 8,000 miles away from home to take part in a PolarTREC expedition studying Weddell Seals in the Ross Sea. While on her expedition, Ms. Eilers retrieved data from the seals and relayed the information back to students and others via her online

PolarTREC teacher Nell Herrmann writes a compelling article for Town and Gown, the local newspaper in her home town of State College, PA. Nell reports on her adventures with a team of scientists in Antarctica and the profound way in which her journey has influenced her both personally and professionally. Note: The online article starts on p. 50 of the

Kevin Tavares and his fourth graders at Old Hammondtown School in Massachusetts built a website to share what they were learning with the rest of the world. Mr. Tavares installed a location tracking device on the page that assigns a red dot to the country of each visitor. The students wanted to get website hits from all seven continents so

This is a one hour PolarConnect event with PolarTREC teacher Amber Lancaster and her research team aboard the RV Nathaniel B Palmer. They are studying the collapse of the Larson B Ice Shelf in Antarctica and its impact on the ecosystem of the Weddell Sea. Note: Due to satellite phone connection there are a few moments of dropped audio, the

Overview

Students chose a research project, from one of seven suggested projects, to complete in class with a partner. Upon completion they will present their information to the class.

Objectives

Students will present a scientifically accurate project on a topic related to the PolarTREC Winter Sampling expedition.

Lesson Preparation

Introduce students to the PolarTREC website. Any expedition could be selected

Frontier Scientists puts you in the front row to observe breaking scientific news from leading Arctic scientists in Archaeology, Geology, Anthropology, the Humanities, Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Chemistry and more. Many videos on Arctic science are available from their website.

This polar-themed unit plan provides a resource for teachers looking for ways to integrate a variety of challenging lessons and activities into their curriculum. The lessons touch on a variety of subject areas including language arts, math, and science. The unit is designed for a 3rd grade class but can be adapted for other grade levels. A helpful media list

The attached Polar Oceans flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, provides summary information about the Polar Oceans and describes how the circulation in polar waters exerts a powerful control on the Earth's climate and carbon cycle. Activities attached to the flyer demonstrate the interconnectedness of marine life in the oceans and how the Polar Regions affect

The attached Lands and Life flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of terrestrial polar ecosystems, from southern cold maritime islands to dry continental deserts in Antarctica and from tree line across the continental tundra to remote northern islands in the Arctic. An attached activity allows students to build a small scale model of

This web site offers in-depth information on all manner of penguin life - photos, animations, and live penguin cams will delight viewers of all ages. Follow the link to 'Penguins Marching into the Classroom' for penguin-related educational activities, picture galleries, journals, and skill testing questions. Students can send questions to researchers studying penguins, check the nests of penguins as they

The Polar Resource Book - Polar Science and Global Climate: An International Resource for Education & Outreach - was written to ensure that the efforts catalyzed by the International Polar Year (IPY) will continue to inspire educators, students, and emerging polar researchers with a shared commitment to outreach and education. This 250 page book edited by Bettina Kaiser and others

Icy IPY activities can be downloaded in word documents and tried in your classroom. From 'Blubber Gloves' to 'Experiments with Ice and Snow', there are a wealth of different activities to introduce students to the Polar Regions or complement their existing knowledge of the Poles. The International Polar Year is a large international effort that has involved over 200 projects

Article about PolarTREC teacher Alex Eilers’ visit to Keystone Elementary to talk to students about her upcoming expedition to study Weddell seals in the Ross Sea.

Article about PolarTREC teacher Alex Eilers’ expedition to study Weddell seals in the Ross Sea.

Chapter 2 of The Biology of the Polar Regions. An accessible supplementary text suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in polar ecology.

The Circumpolar World introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region. This module gives a brief introduction to the physical features and processes of the Arctic region and highlights the significant factors that influence those features and processes. Developed by Bruce Forbes and Steve Young.

This module gives a general overview of environmental issues that affect the Arctic, including climate change related themes. Compiled by Ake Bjorke, Lars Kullerud UNEP/GRID-Arendal, and Olav Hesjedal

The Circumpolar World introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region.

Article about PolarTREC teacher Alex Eilers’ expedition to study Weddell seals in the Ross Sea.

Article about PolarTREC teacher Alex Eilers’ expedition to study Weddell seals in the Ross Sea.

Article about PolarTREC teacher Alex Eilers’ expedition to study Weddell seals in the Ross Sea.

Article about PolarTREC teacher Alex Eilers’ visit to the American Museum of Science and Energy to discuss her upcoming expedition to study Weddell seals in the Ross Sea.

Article about PolarTREC teacher Alex Eilers’ expedition to study Weddell seals in the Ross Sea.

Students experiment with a “blubber glove” to experience how insulation affects heat transfer, and how the adaptation of blubber helps penguins as well as seals, whales and walruses survive in bitterly cold waters.

This 1 hour webinar presentation was conducted by Nell Herrmann and her team including Dr. Amsler and Dr. McClintock. The team presented from Palmer Station, Antarctica on seafloor organisms and the changing ocean conditions.