LESSON PLAN



Arctic Unit

Amanda Carrigan

EDUC 416

Dr. Warner

Amanda Carrigan

EDUC 416

Dr. Warner

The Arctic

The Arctic is a snowy biome located around the North Pole. The North Pole is located in an area called the Arctic Circle, which is the northern most point on earth. In the center of the Arctic Circle, is the Arctic Ocean, which is covered by a huge sheet of floating ice, which is also called pack ice. (Salisbury, 1989, p. 4). The tundra that surrounds the North Pole is a very desolate land. In the southern part of the Arctic there is flat land and small rounded hills, along with many lakes, rivers and streams. In the northern section of the Arctic, “there are mountains, glaciers, plains, and many islands” (Giannetta, 2009). The Arctic days and nights are very unique. Because of the Earth’s position as it orbits the Sun, most of the area in the Arctic Circle stays dark during the winter months. This period of darkness is also called Winter Solstice. Not until late February or early March does the sun first return. The sun appears later the farther north you go. Then the hours of daylight increase and the sun shines for twenty-four hours a day. (Salisbury, 1989, p.4) Sometimes the blowing snow creates whiteouts that can happen without warning and for days.

Seasons in the Arctic

Even though the Arctic is mostly dark during the winter season, it still has all of the seasons like the rest of the earth. Summer last from mid-June to mid-August and is usually cold. During these summer months, the sun shines for twenty-four hours a day. Autumn usually begins around September, and the sun sinks below the horizon and the North Pole is, “in twilight until early October, after which it is in full darkness for the winter” (National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, 2009). The darkest time of the year for the North Pole is approximately on December 21. In winter, strong winds blow the snow into drifts, exposing various patches of land. (Salisbury, 1989, p.5) In the spring, the sun rises higher and higher in the sky with each advancing day, and stops when it reaches its maximum height approximately around June 21. (National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, 2009). Spring is when plants have a short time to reproduce. They will only get about two months.

Plants

When the plants have time to grow during the spring, they grow close to the ground to protect themselves from the cold and wind. Because of the harsh climate, the plants in the Arctic are sparse. Plants that flower “use the long hours of sunlight to produce flowers quickly in the growing season” (Giannetta, 2009). Some of the plants that reside in the Arctic are: shrubs, trees, grass, moss, lichen, and flowers. Lichen is a plant that “grows on the surface of rocks and is part of the moss family.” (ThinkQuest Education Foundation, 2010). There are many types of lichen and in the fall it changes color. There are different ways that plants have to adapt to their environment. Some plants are dark in color so that they can absorb more solar heat. Small leaves help some plants retain moisture. The Arctic poppy has cup-shaped flowers that face up into the sun, so the suns rays are directed towards the center of the flower. These types of plants stay warmer than the air around them. (Giannetta, 2009). Many of these plants are there help sustain the wildlife population of the Arctic.

Animals

|Name |Baby Names |Appearance |What they eat |What is a group |Enemies |

| | | | |called? | |

|Caribou |(Calf |(Dark brown face, thick|(Moss, lichens, and |(Herd |(Arctic Wolves, |

| | |coat of fur, velvety |green plants | |Bears, Eagles, |

| | |antlers | | |Wolverines |

|Musk Oxen |(Calf |(Brown, thick shaggy |(Grass, lichens, and |(Herd |(Arctic Wolves |

| | |coats |willows | | |

|Arctic Wolf |(Pup |(White fur, small ears,|(Musk Oxen, Caribou, |(Pack |(Bears, Eagles |

| | |short muzzle |Lemmings, and Arctic | | |

| | | |Hare | | |

|Wolverine |(Kit |(Thick dark brown coat,|(Mice, rats, eggs, |(Pack |(Wolves, Bear |

| | |large feet, sharp claws|birds, reindeer | | |

|Arctic Fox |(Pup |(Small, short legs, |(Lemmings, eggs, mice,|(Pack |(Bears |

| | |bushy tail, grey and |shellfish, fruits, | | |

| | |white coat |berries | | |

|Lemming |(Pup |(Small, hamster-like |(Plants, roots, |(Solitary animal |(Arctic fox, |

| | |appearance, thick fur |berries, lichens | |Wolverine, Wolf, |

| | | | | |Snowy Owl |

|Polar Bear |(Cub |(Thick white coat, |(Seals, berries, |(Sleuth |(Walrus, Bears, |

| | |largest bear, weighs up|plants, arctic foxes, | |Killer Whale |

| | |to 1300 pounds |birds | | |

|Ermine |(Kit |(Small weasel-like |(Rabbits, rats, birds,|(Pack |( Hawks, eagles, and|

| | |appearance, white fur, |mice | |owls |

| | |sharp teeth and claws | | | |

|Arctic Hare |(Kit |(Weighs up to 12 |(Twigs, roots, plants |(Herd |(Snowy owl, eagles, |

| | |pounds, white fur | | |foxes, wolves |

|Snowy Owl |(Owlet |(White feathers, yellow|(Hares, mice, lemmings|(Solitary |(Arctic fox and |

| | |eyes, sharp claws | | |wolves |

|Walrus |(Pup |(Brown layers of |(Shellfish, seals |(Herd |(Bears |

| | |blubber cover them, 2 | | | |

| | |large teeth | | | |

|Seal |(Pup |(Gray coat of blubber |(Fish, squid, krill |(Pod |(Bears |

(Information came from

Giannetta, J. (2009). "ARCTIC ANIMALS” Saskatchewan Schools and School Divisions. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. ................
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