Research Projects and Environmental Issues

In this section we link you to some research projects. You can involve your students on a variety of levels, from analyzing data to communicating with polar scientists to discussions of the research goals and methods to raising questions regarding new lines of research.

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To the Ends of the Earth : Research in Polar Seas http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/g68/earth.html

This lesson might be a good introduction to polar science. In this lesson students discover the differences between Arctic and Antarctic terrains, learn the hardships imposed on polar explorers by climate and terrain, and explain how modern technologies have expedited polar exploration. According to the lesson plan, the teacher will read the opening and overview to the class and initiate a discussion about the hardships inherent in polar exploration. The students will then explore web sites about famous expeditions to the North and South Poles, work in small groups to study a specific journey, and brainstorm about what they would need to do to prepare for such a journey. As an extension, students can research modern-day exploration of the poles to learn what is left to discover. MSP full record

Why and how scientists study climate change in the Arctic http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/essay_bond.html

This article provides good information, with some illustrations and links to other resources, but is not necessarily an easy read for most middle schoolers. Perhaps a guided reading and thinking exercise, or a paired reading activity, would be appropriate. MSP full record

Environmental issues of the arctic region http://www.allthingsarctic.com/environment/index.aspx

This page provides a brief overview of the region's issues and links you to 10 specific issues, each with its own page: Endangered Species; Global Warming; Habitat Loss; Mining; Oil & Gas Exploration; Overfishing; Ozone Depletion; Pollution; Tourism; and Major Agreements. Student groups could research a single issue and then share information using the jig-saw method. Or, your context may steer you to a particular issue you'd like students to study in-depth. This page provides a good start. MSP full record

Student partners project http://www.studentpartnersproject.org/index.html

The purpose of the Student-Partners Project (SPP), funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation, is to unite students, teachers and scientists to explore the Artic. By partnering with students and teachers living near the mouths of the largest arctic rivers, researchers will obtain water samples that are needed to understand seasonal dynamics and annual biogeochemical fluxes in the river systems. Through involvement in sampling, sample analysis, and data interpretation, students and teachers at the study sites will come to appreciate the pivotal role “their” rivers play in the Arctic System. Click on the "Data" button to get a glimpse of the data thus far. You may consider contacting a school directly involved: Salisbury Community School, Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, West Elementary School, or the lead researcher at the Woods Hole Research Center, Max Holmes. MSP full record

Teaching Box : Global Ups and Downs, Changing Sea Level http://www.teachingboxes.org/seaLevel/index.jsp

This instructional unit, called a "teaching box," contains six lessons: consequences of global warming; experimenting with ice melt; glacial evidence; fossil evidence; impacts of topography; and impacts on ecosystems. The lessons can be done in sequence, or each can stand alone as a complement to your other lessons. MSP full record

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Copyright March 2008 — The Ohio State University. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0424671. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.