April is National Poetry Month – a perfect time to incorporate this engaging and enjoyable form of literature into your science classroom! We’ve suggested science poetry before, including writing diamante poems after viewing webcam images of polar animals and locations and “Where I’m From” poems. Haiku and acrostic poems are also popular in elementary school […]
Polar News and Notes
Lesssons and activities
An Interesting Integration: Science and National Poetry Month
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 8:17 am
Written by: Jessica Fries-Gaither
Polar News & Notes: Sun-Earth Day Celebrates Spring Equinox
Monday, March 17th, 2008 9:00 am
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
March 20 is Sun-Earth Day 2008, an annual event scheduled on or near the date of the spring equinox. It is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to engage K-12 schools and the public in space science activities and interactions with space scientists.
This year’s theme is Space Weather Around the World. […]
Posted in Topics: Education, Lesssons and activities, Polar News & Notes, Reading, Science, Technology, Upcoming Opportunities, social studies
The Last Great Race: Teaching the Iditarod
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 11:21 am
Written by: Jessica Fries-Gaither
Photo courtesy of Travis S., subject to a Creative Commons license
Did you know that Saturday, March 1, marks the ceremonial start to the 36th Iditarod?
Known as the “Last Great Race,” the Iditarod is a race across the beautiful yet rough terrain of Alaska. Covering more than 1,150 miles, mushers and their dogs cross frozen rivers, […]
Posted in Topics: Education, Lesssons and activities, Mathematics, Professional Development, Reading, Science, Technology, social studies
Polar News & Notes: Project BudBurst
Friday, February 22nd, 2008 9:00 am
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
You and your students can become volunteer scientists in a nationwide project to record the time when foliage and flowers first appear this year. Project BudBurst, operated by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), allows students, gardeners, and other citizen scientists in every state to enter their observations into an online database that will […]
Posted in Topics: Education, Lesssons and activities, Polar News & Notes, Science, Upcoming Opportunities
Learning About Antarctica’s Past
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 12:48 pm
Written by: Jessica Fries-Gaither
Photo taken at Lake Bonney in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, by Carol Landis, subject to a Creative Commons license
Did you know that Antarctica was once a warm place? It is hard to imagine, but millions of years ago, the coldest, driest, and windiest place on earth was actually ice-free and inhabited by trees, plants, dinosaurs, and […]
Polar Bears: Much More than a Polar Pin-Up
Monday, December 3rd, 2007 12:12 pm
Written by: Jessica Fries-Gaither
A photograph by Spiritwood Images; subject to a Creative Commons license
Did you know that polar bears live only in the Arctic? Many people wonder why polar bears don’t eat penguins, another animal popularly associated with the poles. In fact, these two animals live at the opposite ends of the earth! The giant marine mammals […]
Posted in Topics: Animals, Arctic, Education, International Polar Year, Lesssons and activities, Life Science, Reading, Science, Writing
Sunrise, Sunset: Learning About Seasons
Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 2:40 pm
Written by: Jessica Fries-Gaither
Did you know that Anchorage, Alaska, experiences approximately 19 hours of daylight on the summer solstice? Or that in Barrow, Alaska, the sun does not set for 84 continuous days during the summer (approximately May 10-August 2)?
Did you know that summer temperatures in Fairbanks, Alaska, can reach 100+ degrees Fahrenheit? Or that Alaska’s short but […]
Penguins Only in Antarctica? It’s Not So Black and White!
Monday, November 5th, 2007 4:42 pm
Written by: Jessica Fries-Gaither
Did you know that there are 17 species of penguins, and that only a few of those 17 call Antarctica home? While visiting South Africa, our tour guide suggested a stop at Boulders Beach to see the penguins. Penguins? In Africa? The idea seemed laughable, but a short walk down the boardwalk revealed hundreds of […]
Posted in Topics: Animals, Antarctica, Arctic, Education, Lesssons and activities, Life Science, Mathematics, Reading, Science, Technology, Writing, social studies
Posted in Topics: Education, Lesssons and activities, Reading, Science, Writing
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