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1. Introduce the concepts of behavioral and biological adaptation.
Ask: What is an animal adaptation? Elicit from students that it is a trait that helps an animal fit in and survive in its environment. Explain to students that there are behavioral and biological adaptations. An example of a biological adaptation is a polar bear’s thick fur, which protects it from freezing temperatures. A thick-billed Murre that dives deep into the Arctic waters in search of fish and squid to eat is displaying a behavioral adaptation. Ask students for other examples of each type of adaptation.

2. Have students watch the video “Arctic Ocean.”
Show students the National Geographic video “Arctic Ocean” and ask them to pay particular attention to what the video segment says about animal life in this region. Tell them to look for examples of behavioral and biological adaptation as they watch. After the video, check students’ comprehension. Ask:

  • What makes the environment so harsh and seemingly inhospitable? (thick ice; freezing temperatures; dark waters)
  • What animals live in this environment? (polar bears, ringed seals, beluga whales, narwhals, bowhead whales, Arctic birds, walruses)
  • What threatens Arctic animal life? How? (global warming; by melting the ice and snow animals and people depend on)

 

3. Have students research Arctic animals and complete the worksheet.
Divide students into small groups or pairs. Distribute the worksheet Arctic Animal Adaptations. Have students use the National Geographic Animals website and library resources. Ask them to research a specific Arctic animal, native to the Beaufort Sea and surrounding arctic regions, and the ways in which the animal has adapted to such a harsh environment. Assign small groups or pairs one of the following animals to research and have them complete the worksheet.

  • albatross
  • Arctic fox
  • Arctic hare
  • beluga whales
  • elephant seal
  • fur seal
  • narwhals
  • polar bears
  • ringed seals
  • thick-billed murres
  • walruses

 

4. Have a whole-class discussion about Arctic animal adaptations.
Have small groups or pairs present the information they found during their research. Ask them to identify at least one way their animal has adapted to the harsh environment. List these adaptations on the board, and discuss any common adaptation strategies across species.

Subjects & Disciplines

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • give examples of behavioral and biological adaptations
  • describe the Arctic environment and the animals that live there
  • explain the adaptations of a specific Arctic animal

Teaching Approach

  • Learning-for-use

Teaching Methods

  • Discussions
  • Research
  • Visual instruction

Skills Summary

This activity targets the following skills:

Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices

National Geography Standards

  • Standard 8:  The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems and biomes on Earth's surface 

National Science Education Standards

What You’ll Need

Materials You Provide

  • Pencils
  • Pens

Required Technology

  • Internet Access: Required
  • Tech Setup: 1 computer per small group, Projector, Speakers
  • Plug-Ins: Flash

Physical Space

  • Classroom

Grouping

  • Large-group instruction
  • Small-group instruction

Background Information

The Arctic is home to life that exists nowhere else on Earth. Polar bears, narwhals, bowhead whales, and other creatures are able to live and thrive in the harsh climate of the Arctic because of their biological or behavioral adaptations.

Prior Knowledge

  • None

Recommended Prior Activities

Vocabulary

adaptation
Noun

a modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence. An adaptation is passed from generation to generation.
Arctic
Noun

region at Earth's extreme north, encompassed by the Arctic Circle.
behavioral adaptation
Noun

way an organism acts in order to survive or thrive in its environment.
biological adaptation
Noun

physical change in an organism that results over time in reaction to its environment.

Websites

  • Credits

    Media Credits

    The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

    Writer

    Naomi Friedman, M.A. Political Science

    Editor

    Christina Riska Simmons

    Expert Reviewer

    Julie Brown, National Geographic Society

    Sources

    adapted from National Geographic Xpeditions lesson “Polar Regions: Arctic Adaptations and Global Impacts”

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