Climate change in polar regions
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the impacts of climate change on the polar regions.
Key learning points
- Climate change is affecting polar regions which are experiencing warming at a faster rate than other places.
- The Arctic ice cap is shrinking at a rate of 13% per decade
- Permafrost is melting and habitats are shrinkingfor species that rely on cold environments.
- There are signs of change in Antarctica due to climate change.
Keywords
Permafrost - ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, typically found in polar regions
Arctic ice pack - sea ice cover of the Arctic Ocean; it has a regular seasonal cycle of spring and summer melt and accumulation in autumn and winter
Habitat Loss - the decline of natural environments that support wildlife, often due to climate change
Ice sheet - a continental glacier; a mass of ice that is greater than 50 000 km²
Common misconception
Melting sea ice does not impact ocean currents.
Melting ice alters the balance of freshwater and saltwater in the ocean, which can disrupt major ocean currents like the Gulf Stream.
Teacher tip
The British Antarctic Survey has some great information for further reading on impacts of climate change in Antarctica.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is climate change?
Q2.Where is the Arctic tundra mainly found?
Q3.Why do many animals in the Arctic have thick fur or fat?
Q4.What is the climate like in the Arctic?
Q5.Which continent is home to most of the world’s ice?
Q6.Where are most glaciers found?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is happening to Arctic sea ice due to climate change?
Q2.How does the melting of sea ice impact ocean currents?
Q3.What happens when permafrost melts?
Q4.How do warmer oceans affect Arctic animals?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Climate change in polar regions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Climate change in polar regions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Ice and glaciers: How are cold places affected by a warming planet? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.