Created by Julene Reed

Introduction

Welcome to "Rolling on the Tundra!" Polar bears are amazing animals. Their habitat is being affected by climate change, and the polar bears existence is threatened.

This exhibit is an interdisciplinary unit of study on polar bears. Within this exhibit, there are lesson plans and ideas for technology integration in many curricular areas-all focusing on polar bears. There are also resources that educators and students can use as they take action to conserve energy, reduce their carbon footprints, and make changes to protect the habitat of the polar bears.

Visit the Polar Bear Blog and Ning

We invite you to join the polar bear Polar Bears International Ning and add information, start discussions, insert comments, share photos, and collaborate with other members who are interested in polar bears!

We also invite you to comment on the blog, "Rolling on the Tundra, A Polar Bear Adventure!" Keep returning to the blog to see new entries. During Julene Reed's trip to the Arctic tundra the second week of November, there will several blog posts published every day. Use the comment function to ask questions of Julene and the scientists who are studying the polar bears of the Churchill area.

Enjoy this exhibit and all of the resources connected to it!

"Polar Bears in a Changing Climate” is a newer, related exhibit that correlates with "Rolling on the Tundra." In that exhibit, there are:

1. ■Lessons and activities correlated with webcasts were conducted live from the tundra
   

2. ■Pre-webcast and post-webcast activities and assessment rubrics
   

3. ■Challenge Based Learning framework
   

4. ■Process for active student-directed learning activities
   

5. ■A focus on creative, action-oriented solutions to authentic problems
   

6. ■Resources for utilization by students and educators as they take action to conserve energy (and water), reduce their carbon footprints, and make changes to protect polar bear habitat
   

7. ■Utilization of 21st century skills and instructional strategies including the integration of relevant technologies
   

8. ■Publishing of digital media a part of the action-oriented solution to a challenge
   

As part of this challenge-based approach to taking action for solving a real–world problem, students can utilize technology to educate the global community about the problems facing polar bears. Using technology, public service announcements can be created with digital video, a series of podcasts can be created and published, print publications can be produced and shared, and relevant information can be disseminated in many ways.

Polar Bears Every Day—in HD

Polar Bear Music Video

Daniel Zatz, award-winning cinematographer, was on the tundra for two weeks in November 2008, filming polar bears and posting daily updates of video with comments! Each day, they would "shoot, edit, and upload a new polar bear program from Hudson Bay, Manitoba." To see the polar bear videos, visit Polar Bears HD.

Partnerships with  Apple, Discovery Education, and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots

Finally, students can utilize technology to educate the global community about the problems facing the polar bears. Using technology, public service announcements can be created with digital video, a series of podcasts can be made, and information can be disseminated in many ways. Dr. Jane Goodall states that knowledge leads to compassion which then leads to action. It is with that in mind that we hope this exhibit will help you and your students take action to implement projects that will make a difference in our world and the world of the polar bear.

Polar Bears International has collaborated with Apple education through their work on the tundra for several years. Their ongoing support and commitment to education and initiatives to improve our world have been critical to our success. Challenge Based Learning is an educational pedagogy that focused on 21st century skills, and that framework is an effective and successful instructional strategy that empowers students to be self-directed in their learning, address authentic, real–world problems, develop solutions, and take action to make the world a better place. Apple has been instrumental in the research and pedagogy behind this instructional strategy.

Polar Bears International partnered with Discovery Education last year! Discovery Education provides engaging digital resources to schools and homes with the goal of making educators more effective, increasing student achievement, and connecting classrooms and families to a world of learning. Discovery’s STEM initiatives in collaboration with their partners like the Siemens Foundation have been extremely successful, educating leaders in science, technology, and math so that they can be empowered to return to their schools and affect change in their schools and communities.

Dr. Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots has partnered with "PBI" to raise awareness about the issues surrounding the polar bears and their habitat in an effort to encourage youth to become active leaders in their communities, promoting ecology and environmental stewardship.

Dr. Jane Goodall states that knowledge leads to compassion which then leads to action. She believes that it is today's youth who have the ability to create a better world for the future.

It is with that in mind that we hope this resource will help you and your students take action to implement projects that will make a difference in our world and the world of the polar bear.