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While not directly "Polar Science", the poles are part of the earth system. "The Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA) is a NASA, NSF and NOAA-supported program implemented by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) to improve the quality of geoscience instruction for pre-service and in-service K-12 teachers. Started in 2000, the program currently includes the participation of 40+ institutions, with over 3,000 teachers having completed an ESSEA course as of fall 2009."

"IPY STEM Polar Connections is a curriculum development and professional development program that explores global climate change and its impact on the Arctic and Antarctic. It includes residential summer institutes for in-service teachers who are involved in the professional development of their colleagues. During each summer institute, teachers are introduced to hands-on STEM Polar Connections materials that model a variety of proven techniques for effective teaching, including inquiry-based teaching and cooperative learning."

This is a Polar Science Special Collection from PBS' Teachers Domain. If you haven't been there lately, be sure to check out the upgrades to this PBS site. It is free to join, has excellent resources (tied to specific state standards in most cases), and most materials are fair use and/or copyright free.

Teachers' Guide to High Quality Educational Materials on Climate Change and Global Warming. Even though the page copyright is old, the resources are still outstanding. The 'Top Ten' list is still tops.

polar science curriculum resources

Free online digital library of media resources (video, interactive, audio, images) for classroom and teacher professional development. Many are OER (open educational resources). If you haven't been there lately, be sure to check out the upgrades to this PBS site resources are tied to specific state standards in most cases, and most materials are fair use and/or copyright free. Th

General science education

If you are looking for some great photos of the polar regions -- scientists working, great scenery, teachers in the field, maps, logos, etc...check out ARCUS' media site. Most of the photos are free to use as long as they are credited and used for non-commercial purposes

The R/V Knorr sets sail from the capital city of the Azores, Porta Delgada, on June 10, 2010 with researcher Lloyd Keigwin, his science team, the crew of the R/V Knorr and three teachers from Massachusetts. This research cruise will take them all the way across the North Atlantic back to R/V/ Knorr's homeport at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) over the course of three weeks. One thing about WHOI - their work is of such good quality, that the blog will be useful far beyond the life the expedition!

There are a lot of teacher resources at NOAA. The quickest way to IPY specific materials is to enter "IPY" in the search space.

IPY agencies

Polar research from the participants' view. Many journal and blogs from teacher researchers and scientists. Even if you are not able to go physically on a trek, travel virtually through the archives, or participate in a webcast from the poles. Dig around this site - there is more than can fit in a small blurb!

From the above site, select "outreach" and read the blog of this group of multi disciplinary undergrads, grad students, K-12 teachers, and university faculty's Dec 07/Jan 08 trip to Antarctica. The blog could make a good mini-text or primer about Antarctica research. Since the conclusion of the expedition, the site has expanded to include photos, bios, and much more (through the Navigation links)

Not an obvious resource page for most teachers, but there is a wealth of information here, not just for IPY! Educators should look for the "Classroom Resources" item on the right sidebar and that page will let them refine their search. The news items are also great for informing students on latest and breaking research in many areas.

general science education

"A place for educators of polar science to share and discuss ideas, resources, strategies, concerns & successes that will engage students and advance scientific literacy about the polar regions of our planet. While primarily targeted at K-12 teachers, we invite educators from any grade level, any country, and any discipline to join us." This group is open and all content is public

Barrow Area Information Database - mapping tools that come recommended by teachers who have used them in secondary and above classes.

modeling and data

Arctic Research Mapping Program. This comes recommended by teachers who have used them in secondary and above classes.

modeling and data

Windows to the Universe. Excellent resources, many of which were featured in the Winter 2008 issue of The Earth Scientist (National Earth Science Teachers Association). This issue was dedicated to polar studies and IPY. Select 'Polar Regions' in the left sidebar menu.

polar science curriculum resources

A mapping of Anarctica. This comes recommended by teachers who have used them in secondary and above classes.

modeling and data

Not a curriculum, or a resource page in the same sense as other sites in the curriculum category; the NOAA Climate Program Office provides a document about climate literacy. It can be accessed here. This document, developed with Standards and Benchmarks in mind, will enable teachers to meet their curriculum needs while incorporating climate and polar studies in their teaching plans.

polar science curriculum resources

Look here to find 'real' data that can be incorporated into lessons. There are also links to lesson plans from other teachers, and well as tutorials on ways to use data with GIS, TI-84 calculators, and spreadsheets.

modeling and data

New-ish site from National Geographic, it's a source of current news rather than an educator resource. But teachers need these too.

"Global warming has been a topic of concern and much controversy for many years. Whatever the disagreements have been in the past, most scientists and policy makers now recognize that if the Earth's surface temperatures continue to rise as much as they have in the past decade or so, then many parts of the world could face dire consequences, including food and water shortages, coastal flooding, and health consequences. Based on the Koshland Science Museum's exhibit Global Warming: Facts and Our Future, the following webquest will allow students to learn firsthand how society and environment might be impacted by global warming and how to help people make better decisions regarding all the complicated issues surrounding climate change, energy use, and available policy options. Students will take on the role of scientist, business leader, or policy maker and be part of a climate action team, which will make some of the same discoveries and decisions that are made in the "real world" every day. "

Polar Science Curriculum Resources