From Pole to Pole
How do the North and South polar regions differ? What features do they share?
Background:
Students draw pictures of the polar regions and compare their ideas to build a community of knowledge and develop questions for further investigation. Students may have very different understandings about the polar regions depending on their backgrounds and interests. You can help students develop a broader base of understanding by having them draw and then compare and discuss their ideas.
Assessment:
The objects students choose to include in their drawings and the subsequent discussion serves as an initial assessment of their level of knowledge. The activity can be repeated at the end of a unit of study to assess how the students’ knowledge has changed.
Materials Needed:
(can be done individually or in small groups)
- Drawing supplies
- paper
- copies of polar map projections (for extension activity)
Activity:
- Divide the class into small groups and give each group a piece of newsprint or other large paper and some coloured markers or crayons.
- Ask half of the groups to draw a picture of the Arctic and the other half to draw the Antarctic. Tell them to include as many features as they can think of.
- While the students are drawing, post a large Venn diagram with 2 circles at the front of the room. Label one circle ‘Arctic’ and the other ‘Antarctic’.
- When the students have completed their drawings, have the groups post their drawings on either side of the Venn diagram.
- As a whole class, discuss the students’ work. Ask them to decide which features the two regions share and which are specific to either the Arctic or the Antarctic. Add them to the proper categories on the Venn diagram.
In cases where the students disagree, start a separate list of questions for investigation. This can serve as a basis for a student-directed investigation of the polar regions and students can add to or modify questions as their investigations progress.
Extensions:
The polar regions are often distorted (or missing altogether) on many standard map projections. Give the students copies of Polar map projections. How do these maps compare with other types of maps?
