dlese.org|1007936
In these activities students will discover the characteristics that enable Antarcticas many life forms to live in this continent of extreme cold, wind, and extended periods of light and darkness. In this weeklong unit, students research how flora and fauna have adapted to thrive in Antarctica, and use their knowledge to create imaginary polar organisms. Throughout this module, students collect their findings in a portfolio. The comprehensive curriculum materials contain a Web activity in which students investigate the living conditions in Antarctica and some of the adaptations its organisms have made, a classroom activity in which students apply what they have learned to create models of imaginary polar creatures, several readings that provide a broad perspective, including excerpts from early explorers journals, and question and answer interviews with scientists working in Antarctica. Teacher tools include individually downloadable readings, detailed daily breakdowns of tasks, teacher strategies for using the activities, a portfolio grading sheet, a project rubric sheet, a student handout with guidance for putting together their portfolios and examples of creative final projects, and additional readings.
Summary
| Subject keyword(s) | Adaptations, Animals, Astronomy, Bacteria, Biomes, Climatology, Cryology, Earth science, Ecology, Ecology, Forestry and Agriculture, Ecosystems, Evolution, Fungi, Geoscience, History of science, Life Science, Life science, Meteorology, Physical sciences, Plants, Populations, Protists, Science, Social Sciences, Space Science, Space sciences |
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| Grade level | Middle School, High School, Vocational/Professional Development Education |
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| Intended audience | Educator |
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| Resource type | Instructional Material |
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| Resource format | text, text/html |
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| Rights | All text, images, and software code on this website are copyright property of the American Museum of Natural History and its programmers unless otherwise noted. They may be used for the personal education of website visitors. They may not be placed in the public domain. Any commercial reproduction, redistribution, publication, or other use by electronic means or otherwise is prohibited unless pursuant to a written license signed by the Museum. |
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Using this resource
Found in collection(s)
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| Title | DLESE Community Collection |
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| Link | http://www.dlese.org/ |
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| Description | The Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) mission is to improve the quality, quantity, and efficiency of teaching and learning about the Earth System, by developing, managing, and providing access to high-quality educational resources and supporting services through a community-based, distributed digital library. Intended users include students, educators and citizens of all ages, in both formal and informal learning environments. The collection favors resources that convey linkages and connections; the general with the specific, theory with evidence, global with local, and that demonstrate the application of science to solving real world problems. This includes providing access to Earth data sets and imagery, and the tools and interfaces that enable their effective use. DLESE resources are community-contributed, by individuals, organizations, and formal collection efforts. |
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| Full description and distribution of resources |
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| Title | Middle School Portal: Math and Science Pathways (MSP2) |
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| Link | http://msteacher2.org/ |
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| Description | The Middle School Portal 2: Math and Science Pathways (MSP2) supports middle grades educators with high-quality, standards-based resources and promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing among its users. Educators use MSP2 to increase content knowledge in science, mathematics, and appropriate pedagogy for youth ages 10 to 15. MSP2 employs social networking and digital tools to foster dynamic experiences that promote creation, modification, and sharing of resources, facilitate professional development, and support the integration of technology into practice. MSP2 is a project of the Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology, National Middle School Association, and Education Development Center, Inc., and is funded by the National Science Foundation. The partners integrate resources, tools, and services across projects, and support multiple methods of resource discovery to meet the needs of this audience. |
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| Full description and distribution of resources |
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Content contained within the resource
TOPICS Continent of Extremes Day & Night Cycles Extreme Temperatures Extreme Winds Maps Exploration Navigation & GPS Organisms Hazards to Humans REFERENCE LISTS INDEX CREDITS WHAT ORGANISMS LIVE IN ANTARCTICA? Take a day, a week, or a whole month to investigate the characteristics that enable Antarctica�s many life forms to live in this continent of extreme cold, wind, and extended periods of light and darkness. If you want teacher strategies, assessment, and a schedule for the unit, start with Curriculum Materials. Then download all the activities (with handouts) and readings. If you want stand-alone, hands-on, or research on the Web activities and don't need teacher strategies to go with them, go directly to Activities. If you want accessible content readings that will help your students connect to Antarctic organisms, go straight to Articles. You'll find interviews with real scientists as well as content readings written by or about Antarctic researchers. What Organisms Live in Antarctica Today? Curriculum Materials for grades 7 through 10 What does it take to survive in Antarctica? For emperor penguins, the answer is teamworkthey huddle together by the thousands to keep incubating eggs warm. Learn how other organisms have adapted. PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 3300kb] [pages: 20] More about this Resource Research on the Web: Adapting to Antarctica Activity for grades 6 through 12 Examine how organisms have adapted to survive on Antarctica�the coldest, highest, driest, and windiest continent�all from the comfortable environment of your computer. Webpage PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 960kb] [pages: 4] More about this Resource Create a Polar Creature Activity for grades 6 through 12 Ice floes, katabatic winds, and subzero temperatures�welcome to life in Antarctica. What features would your ideal creature have to thrive in this extreme habitat? PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 760kb] [pages: 4] More about this Resource Excerpt: The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard Article for grades 7 through 12 Why in the world would anyone spend five weeks trekking into the dark Antarctic winter to bring back a few penguin eggs? Find out, and learn just how harsh the journey was for this three-person team. Webpage PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 140kb] [pages: 5] More about this Resource Excerpt: Great White South by Herbert G. Ponting Article for grades 6 through 12 Ponting is one of the best photographers to have documented Antarctica. He was also a fine travel writer. Read an excerpt from his account of traveling with Robert Falcon Scott on his last expedition. Webpage PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 164kb] [pages: 6] More about this Resource Let's Talk with Randy Davis about Photographing Weddell Seals from Below the Ice Article for grades 6 through 12 Weddell seals spend about 90% of their time submerged, making them a tricky animal to study. Before Davis developed a special camera, scientists could only speculate about the seals' lives below the ice. Webpage PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 332kb] [pages: 4] More about this Resource Let's Talk with Donal Manahan about Studying Antarctica's Marine Organisms Article for grades 6 through 12 Antarctica's water is so clear that organisms have problems finding food. "It's like parents having to tell their young, 'We're not going to be able to feed you until Christmas, so hold your breath,'" says Donal Manahan. Webpage PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 576kb] [pages: 5] More about this Resource Let's Talk with Cornelius Sullivan about Microorganisms in Antarctic Seas Article for grades 6 through 12 During the winter, the sea ice off Antarctica covers an area so big that it's actually the largest continuous habitat on Earth. The algae that live there produce 25 percent of all oxygen on the planet. Webpage PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 372kb] [pages: 4] More about this Resource Letter from Stephanie: Antarctic Adaptations Article for grades 6 through 12 Unlike human visitors, Antarctica's plants and animals don't require high-tech gear. How have these organisms adapted to thrive�not just survive�in such an extreme environment? Webpage PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 240kb] [pages: 6] More about this Resource
