Wendy Morelli, Tracy Hall, Ray
Weldie
 Unit Topic: Polar Animals
 Grade Level: 2-4
 Unit Objectives:
Students will demonstrate their ability to:
1. Define and use new vocabulary related to polar
animals
2. Identify regions where polar animals are found
and locate these regions on a map
3. Describe the dietary needs of polar animals
4. Describe the food chain and it’s relation to polar
animals
5. Use the internet to find information about polar
animals
6. Explain the importance of protecting endangered
polar animals
7. Use measurement to draw polar animal to scale
8. Practice creative writing skills regarding polar
animals
Prior to Day1: Read Brrr!: A Book About Polar Animals
aloud to students and allow students to reflect
o Materials:
1. Berger, Gilda and Berger, Melvin.
Brrr!: A Book About Polar Animals.
December 2000. Scholastic, Inc.
 Day 1:
1. Objectives:
1. Define and use new vocabulary
2. Identify regions where polar animals are
found and locate on map
o Materials:
1. Vocabulary list
2. Maps of polar region
3. Crayons
4. Flip chart and markers
5. Zoo trip details and permission slips
6. Reserve computer lab
o Plan:
KWL-polar animals-use flip chart and markers.
Introduce vocabulary list for unit-students must
know spelling and definitions. Show polar
regions on large map. Hand out maps of polar
region and direct students to locate and color
regions where polar animals are found.
Activity:
Have students work on internet vocabulary word
search:
http://www.abcteach.com/wordsearch.php?words
=polar%0D%0Aregion%0D%0Aice%0D%0Agla
cier%0D%0Aarctic%0D%0Afreezing%0D%0Ai
cy%0D%0AAntarctica%0D%0Apoles%0D%0A
bears%0D%0Aseals%0D%0Apenguins%0D%0A
fish%0D%0Aoceans%0D%0Awhales%0D%0Ao
tters%0D%0A&create_button=Create
Assignment:
Take zoo permission slips home and return
tomorrow.
 Day 2:
o Objectives:
1. Define and use vocabulary
2. Identify regions where penguins and seals live
3. Identify dietary needs of penguins and seals
4. Introduce place in food chain
o Materials:
1. Vocabulary list
2. Large classroom map
3. Food chain handout
4. Crayons
5. Reserve computer lab
o Plan:
Review vocabulary. Locate regions on classroom map
where penguins and seals are found. Discuss dietary
needs- focus on prey and predator- place in food
chain. Label and color food chain diagram.
Activity:
Students will click on
www.brainpop.com/science/ecology/foodchains/index
.weml and watch short movie on the food chain and
take an online quiz.
 Day 3:
o Objectives:
1. Define and use vocabulary
2. Identify regions where polar bears live
3. Define “blubber” and its purpose
o Materials:
1. Vocabulary list
2. Large classroom map
3. Sandwich bags
4. Crisco
5. Bowl of water
6. Ice cubes
7. Journal
o Plan:
Review vocabulary. Identify regions on
classroom map. Discuss how humans keep warm
in winter. Have students experiment with bag of
Crisco, ice cubes and water to simulate polar
bears’ blubber.
o Activity:
Blubber experiment. Have students record results
in journal.
 Day 4:
o Objectives:
1. Use internet for research on polar animals.
2. Use measurement to draw polar animal to scale.
3. Practice creative writing skills.
o Materials:
1. Butcher block paper.
2. Rulers; Meter sticks
3. Paper
4. Markers
5. Reserve computer lab
o Plan
Go to internet sites to research actual
size of assigned polar animal. Use
materials to draw and color animal to
scale. Use internet sites to research
and write a creative paragraph on
assigned polar animal.
o Activity:
Click on
http://www.enchantedlearning.co
m/subjects/birds/printouts/Penguin
coloring.shtml if in the penguin
group
Click on
http://www.enchantedlearning.co
m/subjects/mammals/pinniped/No
rthernfurseal.shtml if in the seal
group
Click on
http://www.enchantedlearning.co
m/subjects/mammals/bear/Polarbe
arcoloring.shtml if in the polar
bear group
Use internet sites to draw animal
to scale.
Students will click on
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/gam
e/ and
http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~ani
mal/photoquizarcticocean.html to
gather information to write
creative paragraph on assigned
polar animal. Topic “What would
it be like if a polar animal lived in
your house?” needs: food,
temperature, space
 Day 5
o Objectives:
1. Explain importance of protecting
endangered polar animals
2. Enjoy trip to the zoo
o Materials:
1. Confirm bus reservation
2. Bag lunches
3. Confirm parent volunteers
4. Give bus assignments
5. Journal
6. Confirm guided zoo tour guide
7. Digital Camera
o Plan:
Take a trip to Philadelphia
Zoo. Tour guide will explain
dangers (environmental and
human) to the polar animals
and what is being done to
protect them.
o Activity:
Students will record
facts learned about polar
animals and
endangerment in
journal.
o Assignment:
Take a picture of polar
animal and summarize
facts about animal.
Additional Hotlink Sites
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/lessons/PolarRegions.sht
ml
http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/penguins/books.htm
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.worldbookonline.com/jsp/wbPopup.jsp?/na/pc/
cp/lr004804.htm