Curated OER
Changing Planet: Permafrost Gas Leak
Pair earth scientists up to use an amazing online arctic portal mapping tool and Google Earth to analyze permafrost changes. They compare changes to data on atmospheric concentrations of methane to see if there is a correlation. Then...
American Museum of Natural History
What's This?: Early Humans
Early humans crafted shelters out of whatever materials they could find. A one-question quiz asks learners to identify the type of bones used to construct the hut pictured in a display.
Polar Trec
Permafrost Thaw Depth and Ground Cover
The thaw depth of tundra creates a positive feedback loop with both global warming and the carbon cycle. Scholars sort photos and develop a hypothesis for ground cover and permafrost depth. Then they review the data and measurements...
NOAA
Where Have All the Glaciers Gone?
What happens when ice melts? Well ... water happens. When that melting ice is a glacier, the amount of water that results produces change throughout the world. Middle school science sleuths uncover the truth about global...
Global Oneness Project
At-Risk Communities
"Waiting to Move," a photo essay by Ciril Jazbec, brings into sharp focus the threats posed by climate change. Class members examine images of Shishmaref Island and the Native Alaskan Inupiate coastal villages that are impacted by rising...
Curated OER
Frost Depth Study
Students complete activities to study the frost and frost depth. In this frost study lesson, students use frost tubes to study and measure the frost at their school. Students measure the frost in the tube and enter their data online to...
Curated OER
Soil Permeability
Students discuss how soil permeability is affected by permafrost. In this soil lesson plan, students freeze soil over night, and discuss how the environmental conditions of freezing affect soil and further affect vegetation.
Curated OER
Frost Depth
Learners explore the concept of frost depth. In this frost depth lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires them to use a frost tube to measure, record, and graph frost depth data.
Curated OER
Keep it Active
Young scholars explore the active layer above permafrost and investigate various factors on the insulation value of the active layer. In this energy transfer lesson, students conduct and experiment to determine the effects of snow...
Curated OER
Alaska the 'Poster State" For Climate Concerns
Students read an article on Alaska and its climate concerns. In this research lesson students create a poster that contrasts Alaska then and now that pertains to climate change.
Curated OER
Permafrost: Permanently Frozen Ground
Students explore permafrost. In this 3 states of matter lesson plan, students identify characteristics of solids and liquids. Students observe water and soil melting and freezing at various temperatures. Students make...
Curated OER
Polygons, Pingos, and Themokarst! Oh MY!
Students complete activities to learn about the common land features in Alaska. In this land study lesson, students study an overhead for permafrost features. Students define ice wedge polygons, thermokarst, and pingos. Students also...
Curated OER
Keep It Cool
Students complete a science experiment to study insulation, heat transfer, and permafrost. In this permafrost study instructional activity, students design and test a soda insulator. Students graph their class data and discuss the...
Curated OER
Tour of the Frozen Ground
Students discuss and observe permafrost features in their local community and compare and contrast these features with those described in a novel. In this permafrost lesson, students invite an elder from their community to discuss...
Curated OER
Layering the Soil
Students study and classify soil. For this soil science lesson, students classify soil by texture and size and study soil horizons. Students label the soil types with their specific soil horizon and learn about permafrost. Students...
Curated OER
Permafrost
Students use a thermometer to analyze soil temperature data to determine which soil sample is normal, and which one is permafrost. In this permafrost lesson plan, students participate in a hands on activity where they identify the active...
Curated OER
Walking on Frozen Ground
Students listen to an Elder speak about permafrost structures in their area. In this permafrost lesson plan, students listen to the guest speaker, take a tour outside to view permafrost structures, and draw them.
Curated OER
Some Like It Cold
Sixth graders study Canada's northern territories and four settlements above the Arctic Circle. In this northern Canada lesson, 6th graders maps and timelines to locate physical, political, and economic features of northern Canada....
Curated OER
Totally Tundra
In this tundra activity, middle schoolers read about tundras and the plants and animals that live in tundras. They then use what they learned to answer the 10 questions on the page. The answers are on the last page.
Curated OER
Biomes: Extreme Climate
Students create a web connecting global warming, the Arctic, and wold climate. They write a paragraph explaining the role of the Arctic in world climate.
Curated OER
Tundra Word Search
In this earth science worksheet, middle schoolers identify and locate various vocabulary terms pertaining to the tundra. There are 21 earth science terms located in the word search.
Curated OER
Climate Change: What's Hot? What's Happening?
Students conduct a web-based project to analyze recent or on-going climate change research in the North. They are exposed to the application of science in current research on climate change.
NASA
Nasa: Astrobiologists to Hunt Small Game in Siberia
A detailed article on information obtained from the Arctic permafrost. Scientists find vegetation in ice. Very Interesting! (July 27, 1999)
PBS
Pbs: Activities for the Classroom: Permawhat?
This is a an online activity on permafrost. The objectives are stated, there is background information, an activity, an evaluation, and additional web resources.