How do polar animals survive the cold?

Adaptations & Habitats

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Lesson narration:

Activity Prep

This mini-lesson explores how polar animals keep warm in the coldest regions on Earth. In the no-prep activity, My Tiny Winter Home, students use ideas from the mini-lesson to design a house that will keep them warm in a very cold climate. Older students also think about how they could test their design, as we walk them through an experimental design process.

What you’ll need for students
Blank Paper (8.5 x 11") 90 sheets
Crayons 90 crayons
Pencil 30

Preparation Instructions

This is an activity that kids can do in class or at home, solo or with others. No print-outs needed!

Steps in Activity:

  1. Get your supplies.

  2. Take a sheet of paper and fold it in half the short way. Then fold it in half again. Unfold it. You’ve made 4 boxes where you can draw.

  3. Number the boxes. In boxes 1, 2, and 3, you’ll draw ideas you get from each sister. In box 4, you’ll think about all the possibilities and draw your final idea.

  4. The first sister shows you pictures of triangular cabins, round domes, tiny houses on stilts, and more. Look at her pictures. Draw or write down an idea you really like in box 1.

  5. From above, you just see a hole going into the snow. Think about building a house under the snow. Draw or write your ideas in box 2.

  6. Sister #3 shows you materials they have lots of. Think about using cardboard, blankets, bubble wrap, or snow to keep your home warm. Draw or write your ideas in box 3.

  7. In box 4, draw your plan for your perfect winter home. Give your home a name if you like.

  8. If you’d like, make a big picture of your winter home. Write a sentence that tells people why this home is a great home to stay when it’s cold outside.

  9. Discuss the test: How can you test your ideas by experimenting?

Conclusion

Discuss how engineers want to test their ideas, make a small copy and try it out in conditions similar to where it will be built.

Discussions

Here’s some things we thought a person could do to stay warmer in the Bubble House.

Final Thoughts

Do you want to test the winter home you drew? If you have space in your freezer and a thermometer, you could build a model and try what we did.