Ice and snow come to mind for most people when conjuring up mental pictures of the polar regions. The idea that plants grow in harsh arctic and antarctic environments seems unlikely, but Antarctica is home to two species of plants while at the opposite end of the earth, over a thousand plant species grow on the Arctic tundra along with algae and lichens that are not classified as plants. Learn about all things pertaining to polar plant life in the new issue of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears magazine.

The Polar Plants issue of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears highlights surprising facts about what grows at the poles. 

Issue 12 features K5 teacher interactive activities and resources that include:

Information about the plants, fungi, algae, and lichens of the polar regions and their adaptations for a cold and harsh environment.

High quality lesson plans for integrating literacy and science while teaching plant classification, life cycles, and adaptations.

 Downloadable informational text about lichens, written especially for students, in text, book, or e-book form.

A guide for how to help your elementary students organize research.

A report on a surprise discovery in Antarctica and how it shaped our understanding of the continent’s past climate as well as a podcast featuring Dr. Andy Monaghan, a climate scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

And much more! Check out Issue 12 - Polar Plants - today.