Teacher instructions

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

10 minutes

Tune in: Activating prior knowledge about polar bears

25 minutes

Find out: Explicit teaching about the effect of climate change on polars bears

20 minutes

Take action: Create a news report to communicate scientific knowledge

5 minutes

Reflection

Tune in: Activating prior knowledge about polar bears

Step 1.

Discuss:

What changes to our environment are we seeing due to climate change?
What animals have been affected by changes to their environments due to climate change? Likely answers may include polar bears, koalas, whales.

Step 2.

Discuss:

What measures can individuals take to make a positive change to global warming?
Are there any key people or organisations you can name who are spreading the word about climate change? Perhaps you have you heard of someone on the news or read about them in books?
What are these people doing to try to spread the word?
What is the most effective way you have seen of spreading the message about climate change? Was it a news report, movie, or documentary you watched? A poster you saw on the street or on a billboard? A book you read? Someone campaigning? You might like to discuss the pros and cons of all of these different methods.

Step 3.

Discuss:

What information can you tell me about polar bears and their environment?

Find out: Explicit teaching about the effect of climate change on polar bears

Step 1.

Watch:

When Will Polar Bear Populations Collapse? The Answer is Up to Us. (https://youtu.be/I7Z1H4pUfIQ)

Step 2.

Discuss the main points from the video:

melting ice caps have led to polar bears spending longer periods of time on land not on sea ice and longer period without food sources
polar bears cannot reproduce or survive without sea ice.

Step 3.

Read the facts about Polar Bears available on the Student Worksheet.

Step 4.

Watch:

Sir David Attenborough: The Future Of Our Frozen World - Frozen Planet II | BBC Earth (https://youtu.be/pf2egYzg-uc)

Take action: Create a poster to communicate scientific knowledge

Step 1.

Discuss:

how can we help with the challenge of climate change?

buying local produce
walking, cycling or using public transport
switch off lights and other electrical devices
plant trees and flowers
shop for sustainable clothes
spread the word

Step 2.

Independently, students create a poster detailing the impacts of climate change on polar bears and their environment, and which highlights and encourages ways in which people can help with the challenge of climate change.

Reflection

Invite some students to share their news reports with the class.

Differentiated Learning

Extension

Create a PowerPoint on Polar Bears and the impact of climate change

Research key people spreading the word, such as Greta Tunburg, Jaden Smith, David Attenborough and Pharrell Williams (What is his song 100 years about?)

Watch this video from that highlights how the changes in the arctic are affecting the rest of the world. Polar Change - How is climate change affectin... - ClickView

You could read the book the Last Bear by Hannah Gold, here is a video of her talking about the research for her book video:

‘The Last Bear’ reading and writing activity with author Hannah Gold (for ages 8+) (https://youtu.be/srKAM9I_Fsg)

Additional resources:

Writing about Climate Change - Posters about Polar Bears

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Summary

Lesson Guides and Printables

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