Jump to this Other »
Polar Bears Go with the Floes Board Games
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/ice/activities/ice_earth/polar_bears_floes/

Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association

In this 45-60 minute high-stakes board game, everyone wins or everyone loses. As they play, groups of three to four children ages 8 to 13 build an understanding of how human actions impact global change. As teams, children play a game in which chance and choice determine the fate of a lone polar bear on an ice floe.

This activity takes 45-60 minutes.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»


Grade Level

Regional Focus

Online Readiness

Topics

Climate Literacy

This Other builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

  • We suggest adding the names of the other animals on the game pieces (e.g. "Beluga Whale").
  • We suggest fact-checking the Eco-Facts beforehand.
  • It would be a good game to send home with students after playing it in class.
  • It may be good to play the game as is once and then have students create their own cards for future games.
  • Try not to focus too much on the gloom and doom as this can become overwhelming for your students. Teachers might want to consider going to the CLEAN support guides for elementary teachers to understand how to address this.

About the Content

  • Students build an understanding of how human actions impact global change and about the connection between the warming climate and the disappearance of the Arctic sea ice.
  • Students learn how their actions can have an effect on climate change, and that it is a combination of several actions and not one simple solution.
  • Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

  • This resource is an engaging board game where students work cooperatively to prevent the Polar Bear from losing its sea ice habitat.
  • Students are provided with background information before the game.
  • The game can be a way to expand upon concepts already learned in class.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • The materials are ready to print but will require a significant amount of teacher preparation.
  • A die will be needed.
  • There is a video demonstrating how to play the game.
Entered the Collection: August 2020 Last Reviewed: June 2020

Jump to this Other »