Exploring Polar Science - 4-H Project Book

Jason Cervenec, Ohio State University-Main Campus

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection.

This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Reviewed Teaching Collection

This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are

Scientific Accuracy
Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
Pedagogic Effectiveness
Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page

For more information about the peer review process itself, please see https://serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/activity_review.html.

This page first made public: Aug 27, 2021

Summary

This 4-H project book includes a series of eight activities, focused on polar science, that youth can complete with an parent or mentor. Each activity includes a hands-on component and options for communication. The activities featured are appropriate for use outside of 4-H, for instance in science classrooms, with after school programs, or during enrichment camps. Each activity includes links to supplemental materials to extend learning.

History and evolution of Earth's climate, Paleoclimate records, ...(more) | Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)

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Context

Audience

These materials would be appropriate for informal STEM learning programs in the geosciences serving youth in upper elementary school, middle school, and high school. The booklet could be part of a structured program or completed individually by the youth with a parent or mentor.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Youth need to be able to read background information and instructions or have a mentor complete activities with them.

How the activity is situated in the course

The booklet can be completed as a stand-alone activity (there are eight activities within the booklet) or individual activities could be extracted from the booklet for use in classrooms and informal learning programs.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Geography of the poles and differences between the two regions; ice cores and gathering information about past climates; glacier motion and impact; living and working in polar regions; food webs; ecology of past and present; and sea ice and sea level rise

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Making and recording observations; drawing conclusions; and making personal connects between activities, experiences, and supplemental materials

Other skills goals for this activity

Communication; following instructions; leadership; civic engagement; taking action

Description and Teaching Materials

Each booklet includes notes to the parent/mentor and log for documenting activities at the start of the booklet. A glossary of key terms, selected answer keys, and a matrix describing all of the activities are at the end of the booklet.

Printed booklets may be purchased at cost by completing the web form at https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/exploring-polar-science/.

Teaching Notes and Tips

All of the instructions for completing the activities and extending learning are included in the booklet. Additional questions may be directed to Jason Cervenec at cervenec.1@osu.edu.

Assessment

All activities include demonstrations of knowledge within the booklet or articulate products that youth need to create.

References and Resources

These materials were developed under NSF Grant No. 1906929.

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