Last week, Mr. Harger's 5th grade students took a break from learning about health and human development and joined Mrs. Ward on an adventure from her classroom at DA (room 401) to the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska just below the Arctic Circle. First we studied a map of the northern polar region to orient ourselves (see my 8 April 2008 journal for maps). We found Kugluktuk on our globes and then set out for the ice!
We all ooo'd and ahhh'd over the beautiful pictures that Rick Krishfield sent. It was like we were there! Of course to be on the ice, you must have the right clothes!
Here in North Carolina, we are not accustomed to wearing so many clothes-- fortunately this expeditioner has help!
Dressing up in this extreme weather gear prompted our first question: how does everyone know who is who with all these clothes on? After a while we collected more and more questions so I kept a giant list on the board. When I finished talking to all the 5th grade classes, I sent their questions off to the BGEP team at Woods Hole. Check out the Ask the Team for all the answers!
The Arctic landscape is quite white. There are no trees, no rocks, no hills, no distinguishing features of any kind. If you are on the ice and a wind comes up or a cloud descends or you find yourself otherwise lost, you need to be able to rely on your other senses besides sight to regain your bearings and find your team. Students put on buckets to simulate these white-out conditions while we talked about ways to locate yourself in your environment.
Mr. Harger's students simulate white-out conditions by wearing white buckets on their heads. Without trees or buildings or any landmarks at all, the Arctic landscape can become disorienting.
Every one who participated in this drill said that seeing all white was much different from seeing all black (like at night time) because you often felt that you could see something but then...........it was nothing..................
Thank you Mr. Harger for letting me talk to your students about my expedition.
Mr Harger helps his 5th grader get dressed for the Arctic. Even with the furry gloves, she can hold the DA Lion!
I will be teaching some of them next year when I return!