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Rolling on the Tundra - A Polar Bear Adventure
Tuesday, November 10th at 2:00 p.m. (CENTRAL time zone)
Here is a link to the online curriculum: http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=19605
Join the polar bear blog - http://polarbearadventure.edublogs.org
and the ning - http://polarbearsalive.ning.com that provide information about the polar bears and climate change.
With concerns about global warming and its effect on the habitat of the polar bear, this videoconference live from the tundra is of great interest to teachers and students. Polar bears are a threatened species. By raising awareness about their plight through education, students can be inspired and empowered to affect change and take action to remedy the problems that negatively impact the polar bears and their habitat.
Join Apple Distinguished Educator, Julene Reed, as she visits the “Polar Bear Capital of the World” near the Hudson Bay in Churchill in Manitoba, Canada. Participate in a live videoconference from the Arctic tundra with Julene and scientists studying polar bears. Engage in a discussion of facts about polar bears, issues affecting them (such as climate change, etc.), and actions that we can take to help the polar bears.
This project is collaboration with Dr. Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots, Polar Bears International, and Apple Learning.
Learn About Polar Bears - focus on background information regarding polar bears: their habitat, migration patterns, feeding habits, unique characteristics, and behaviors.
Learn About the Issues Surrounding Polar Bears - focus on environmental issues that are affecting the polar bears and their habitat. What impact are those issues having on the bears, what changes have scientists observed, etc.? How is their habitat changing because of climate change?
Learn Actions To Take and How To Make a Difference - focus on actions that can be taken to help preserve the polar bear populations and protect their habitat. What can we do locally where we live? What kinds of activities and projects could we do to raise awareness in the larger, global community that could motivate people to make changes to conserve energy, reduce carbon footprints, etc.? What other animals are being threatened in the same way as the polar bears - because of loss of habitat? What is being done to help those animals?
These early November videoconferences will be held live from the Arctic tundra next
to Hudson Bay not far from Churchill, Manitoba. The scientists, zoologists,
and educators who will participate in the videoconferences will be broadcasting
from the Tundra Buggy Lodge. The lodge is comprised of specialized modules
that, when linked end to end, stretch almost 100 meters long.
 
There are two sleeper cars as well as lounge, dining, and utility cars. In addition,
there is a buggy that hosts the scientists, educators, and special visitors who
are participating in videoconferences, conducting scientific research. That
buggy is fully equipped with computers, cameras, and videoconferencing
equipment that are used for education and scientific investigation.
Website Questions/Comments
Contact Virtual School Webmaster, Michael Majett
Email: michael.majett@Vanderbilt.edu
Phone: (615) 343-1018 IP:129.59.139.23
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