TOPIC: Tundra-Arctic

OBJECTIVES:

1) Knowledge:

• examine the location and extent of tundra and polar ice caps
• examine the characteristics that make the arctic fragile: light, snow
• examine the relationships among temperature, precipitation, natural vegetation and animal life

2) Skills:

• distinguish between information that is fact and that which is opinion
• use an atlas efficiently
• find a place given its latitude and longitude

RESOURCE MATERIALS:

1. World map: Tundra and Polar Ice Caps
2. Map: Northern Ellesmere Island and North Pole
3. Article: "So You Want to Go to the Pole!"
4. Article: "Arctic Climate-Earth's Orbit and Tilt"
5. Arctic Medical Kit: Activities
6. Colored pencils
7. Atlas with Polar Regions content

INSTRUCTIONS:

Part A: Orientation

1. Read the Introduction to "So You Want to Go to the Pole!" Then pose the question:
   

   "How can one prepare to travel in polar regions?" eg. clothing etc.

2. Have students underline facts and circle opinions for the Introduction only!
3. Distribute the polar map and do the following:
   a) label the pack ice edge
   b) label the Canada/Greenland boundary
   c) color the land sections of the map
   d) calculate the distance from Ward Hunt Island to the North Pole. eg 800 km
4. Distribute the world map and do the following:
   a) locate Ellesmere Island and Greenland
   b) identify countries containing tundra and polar ice caps
   c) estimate fraction of the world's land area that is tundra and polar ice cap. eg. 1/10 approx.

Part B: Adaptation Activities

1. Distribute the Arctic Medical Kit worksheet and conduct the activities:
   
   • preparing a medical emergency kit
   • 4-minute stress exercise

Part C: Arctic Environment

1. Read Part B of "So You Want to Go to the Pole!"
2. Have students again underline facts and circle opinions , but for Part B only!.
3. Ask students to describe the role of snow and light in the arctic. eg. record of climates, few animals
4. Distribute article on earth's orbit and tilt, then conduct experiment and record observations.

COMPLETION TIME:

Approximately three 30-40 minute periods.

EVALUATION:

1. Completion of task marks for mapping exercises.
2. Participation marks for experiments.
3. Write an imaginary story of a trip to the pole.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:

1. Research and report on National Geographic articles.
2. Construct climatic graphs of arctic stations.
3. Find latitude and longitude of locations on Greenland and Ellesmere Island.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:

1. National Geographic, "Alone Across The Arctic Crown", Apr. 1993, pgs. 70-93.
2. National Geographic, "Ellesmere Island- Life in the High Arctic", June 1988, pgs. 750-767.
3. National Geographic, "Commander Robert E. Peary: Did He Reach the Pole?" Sept. 1986, pgs 387-413.
4. National Geographic, "North To The Pole", Sept. 1986, pgs. 289-317.
5. National Geographic, "Circling Earth From Pole to Pole", Oct. 1983, pgs. 464-481.
6. National Geographic, "Ice On The World", June 29, 1992, pgs. 79-103.
7. Maclean's, "Journey to the Pole", June 29, 1992, pg. 47
8. Environment Canada Weather Forecasts
9. International Arctic Environment Data Directory (ADD)