This summer I went to a polar science conference in Norway. While there I became aware of how proud the Norwegian are of their explorers, such as Nansen and Amundsen. I came home with a list of books documenting their adventures that I wanted to read. I spent my rainy Alaskan summer reading about brave men who definitely knew their ice, be it sea ice or freshwater ice.
"Nansen in front of the ship in the summer of 1894, strongly doubting that the ice drift would lead him to the Pole."
Cultural connections can use a historical perspective such as the first explorers into a polar region or the connection can be with those who lived in polar regions all along. The books I read had many examples of how the extreme environments of the Arctic and Antarctic were difficult for explorers. I was even more in awe of the people and cultures whose entire lives were spent in these extreme environments.
River ice break up is a fascinating topic for me. There are many cultural connections from betting in the Nenana Ice Classic to the routine spring floods in many communities as the ice breaks up and dams form downstream.
Extend:
As an ALISON teacher, freshwater ice is a topic I've received much training (from the best researches anywhere on these topics). The more I learn, the more I realize there is to learn. The video Students Measure Changes in Lake Ice and Snow is a great introduction to ALISON. Although I'm not as active as I used to be in ALISON, I continually find ways to apply my knowledge of lake ice when teaching. Many students ski, snowboard or snowmachine, making snow and ice a topic that is interesting and relevant to them. More importantly though doing ALISON allows students to work with scientists - being trained and collecting data using the same equipment as the researchers at UAF. This is such an exciting way to teach, learn and do science.
Here is an article titled "Temperature variations in lake ice in central Alaska, USA" written my Marc Gould and Martin Jeffries of UAF.
Evaluate:
I wish this was the first module. There are so many connections to our everyday life in the topic of freshwater ice and snow. So much interesting, relevant and fun stuff! Quick question: The video "Studnets Measure Change in Lake Ice and Snow" ... do you know where I could find the full video?
Three classmates:
My ALSION pal Cheryl has some neat links to the permafrost tunnel.
Alison spent a week in Hawaii and contemplated how warmer climates view climate change compared to colder ones.
Amy brought my attention to the video ... Elements in the Stars
Wow – what an opportunity to go to Norway for a polar science conference. I like your idea bringing first explorers into the cultural connections part of your units.
ReplyDeleteStudents Measure Changes in Lake Ice and Snow is good resource for inspiring students with ideas for how they can get involved in science and end up making a difference in their community. The kids were able to measure and research snow density, ice thickness, thermal conductivity, and temperature gradients and then relate these directly to climate change.