Objectives
Students will be able to:
- List some of the polar bear's adaptations to climate in Canada's northern regions.
- Create a winter outfit for themselves based on their findings about polar bears.
Method
Students research and determine animal adaptation characteristics.
Materials
Scissors; large sheets of craft paper; pencils; crayons; pelt (optional); pictures of polar bear; thermometers; handbooks from St. John's Ambulance, Girl Guides or Scouts for winter gear suggestions (optional)
Background
The polar bear is a sensible dresser for Canada's northern regions, thanks to its three "coats." The first is a layer of oily, water-repellent guard hairs. Though these appear white or creamy yellow in colour, they are actually transparent and hollow. Their colour is the reflection of visible light. These hairs reflect radiant heat from the sun down to the bear's black skin. The next coat is a layer of dense under-fur that snuggles against the animal's skin much like long underwear. Beneath the black skin, the final coat — a thick layer of insulating fat — keeps the bear's vital core warm.
The polar bear has many other adaptations. Its well-furred ears and tail are relatively small, and so less likely to be frostbitten. Its wide and densely furred feet with their webbed toes are ideal for silently stalking prey, keeping warm, walking in snow and swimming. In fact, Arctic summers can be too hot for these well-insulated bears! Summer dens have been found where polar bears dig into the permafrost to cool off. It is thought that some of these dens may have been used for hundreds of years.
Extensions
- Invite an Elder, a hunter or a museum staff person to demonstrate traditional winter clothing to students.
Evaluation
- Students will demonstrate what they have learned by dressing appropriately for outdoor conditions.
- Describe at least four ways that the polar bear has adapted in order to survive winter.
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