Curated OER
Sea Ice Research
Pupils study sea ice and its importance in climate and climate change. They discuss sea ice as a presence of a food source for marine animals in the arctic and complete a lab activity. After completing the lab, they watch a video...
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 Earth Observatory: Polar Ice Fact Sheet
Learn about polar ice, its effects on energy exchanges, how much surface area it covers, and how it is affected by global warming.
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Arctic Ocean
Lengthy illustrated article about the Arctic Ocean discusses all the many features and characteristics of this vast northern ocean--sea ice, icebergs, ice shelves, ice islands, the Arctic Ocean floor, continental shelf--as well as the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab 2: Earth's Frozen Oceans
A lab experiment in a series of experiments that investigates climate and the cryosphere. In this particular lab, students explore how sea ice forms, how sea ice thickness changes over time, and how sea ice can affect ocean currents...
Other
Polar Bears International: Bear Tracker
Using this tool, students can watch polar bears as they travel across the sea ice to hunt seals. The Bear Tracker also shows current and past sea ice extents on Hudson Bay, along with the locations of polar bears.
National Snow and Ice Data Center
National Snow and Ice Data Center: All About Sea Ice
An intensive look at sea ice, its characteristics, how it is formed, where it occurs, why it is so important, scientific research, its impact on early explorers' voyages, and so on. Antarctic and Arctic sea ice are compared for...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Climate & Water Teaching Box
Investigate water in a warmer world. This teaching box is filled with explorations and readings that help secondary students learn how climate change is affecting the water cycle.
Scholastic
Scholastic News: Re Creating the Arctic
Studying sea ice in the Arctic region is very difficult. Read how scientists are using an innovative technique of freezing seawater in a pool to study sea ice.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Whither Arctic Sea Ice?
In this lesson students will access and analyze sea ice data. By the end of the lesson students should be able to measure the seasonal variations in sea ice extent, discover long-term changes occurring in sea ice extent, visualize the...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: What's Below the Tip of the Iceberg?
It's a well-known fact that the majority of an iceberg lies below the surface- but just as stealthily hidden are their fascinating qualities. Camille Seaman gives homage to these icy isles. [4:51]
Climate Literacy
Clean: Climate Change and Arctic Ecosystems
Students learn about how climate change is affecting the Arctic ecosystem, and then investigate how this change is impacting polar bear populations. Students analyze maps of Arctic sea ice, temperature graphs, and polar bear population...
Climate Literacy
Clean: Sea Level Rise
Students will learn the difference between sea ice and glaciers in relation to sea level rise using topographic maps.
NASA
Nasa: Climate Time Machine
Take a trip in a "time machine" to see a series of pictures that show the how the climate of Earth has been changing. The indicators shown are: sea ice, sea level, carbon dioxide, and global temperature.
National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation: Wild Places: Arctic
An overview of the ecological state of arctic environments, plant, and animals.
University of California
University of California: Seawater Density & Salinity [Pdf]
Describes the properties of seawater and the variations depending on its location, e.g., near a shoreline, in an estuary, or as sea ice. Discusses the instruments scientists use to measure the density of water and explains other...
Other
Antarctic Geological Drilling: Environmental Literacy Framework Activities
An impressive collection of lessons on climate science and climate change. The entire book can be downloaded. As well, each lesson has its own page with some combination of background information, PowerPoints, images, maps, glossaries,...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Sea Ice and Heat: A Vicious Cycle
Melting sea ice doesn't cause sea level to rise because the ice is already in the ocean, but it does cause other changes to the planet. When sea ice melts, more sunlight is absorbed by the Earth, which causes more warming. It's a vicious...