Climate Change Unit: Arctic Sea Ice and Polar Bears — High School Biology 5E Lesson

Description

The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, and its most famous resident hunts from a platform that is literally melting. This complete 5E unit explores Arctic sea ice loss and polar bear habitat as one connected investigation: students analyze ice extent data, model the habitat impacts of a shrinking ice season, and design engineering solutions in response.

It is the flagship Arctic resource in the Beyond the Brains catalog — the full treatment, with the data work, the biology, and the engineering design all in one sequence.

What’s inside

• A complete 5E instructional unit on Arctic sea ice and polar bears.
• PowerPoint slides included to carry instruction through the unit.
• Analysis of Arctic sea ice extent data.
• Modeling of habitat impacts on polar bears.
• Engineering design work: students design solutions for sea ice loss and polar bear habitat.

How it runs in class

The 5E sequence carries the arc: engage with the phenomenon, explore the ice data, explain the system — ice, habitat, bear — elaborate by modeling what a shorter ice season does to that system, and evaluate through engineering design. The design component is what sets this unit apart from a standard climate unit: students don’t just document a problem, they have to respond to it under constraints, which is where the ETS standards and the deepest thinking live.

Standards alignment

NGSS: HS-LS2-6, HS-LS4-6, HS-ESS3-5, HS-ETS1-1, HS-ETS1-2, HS-ETS1-3. Grades 8–12 · Biology, Engineering, Environment.

Shorter on time? The Arctic Sea Ice & Polar Bears Mini Unit covers the same territory in condensed form. Open either version with the free Polar Bear Observation activity, and pull the Arctic engineering design activity as a standalone if design is your focus.