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  • Global warming causes the average temperatures in the world to increase.

  • Around the North Pole, the cold season is becoming shorter, the sea ice melts earlier

  • and the time during which polar bears can hunt for food diminishes every year.

  • This threat may seem remote and difficult to explain to children

  • growing up in more temperate regions of the world.

  • How can you make this situation more concrete and easier to understand? Here is what I propose.

  • If you do this project in the winter and it is cold enough where you live,

  • fill a plastic tub or storage box with snow. Pack the snow tightly.

  • If it’s not cold enough outside, fill a plastic container with water

  • and put it in the freezer until the water is frozen solid.

  • In that case, youll probably have to use a container that is smaller than mine.

  • Bring the frozen container into a warm room

  • and put plastic polar bear figurines on the ice.

  • If you don’t have any polar bear figurines,

  • you could make your own from play dough or paper.

  • Now, let the children observe what happens.

  • If you want to apply a more scientific method,

  • start by asking the children to formulate hypotheses: “What do you think will happen?”,

  • How long is it going to take?”, etc.

  • Then, at regular intervals, let them observe what happens

  • and let them measure the thickness of the ice.

  • Polar bears mainly feed on seals, which they hunt from the edge of sea ice.

  • With temperatures rising over the years, the ice floes shrink

  • and the time during which polar bears can hunt for food diminishes as well.

  • As a result of these two effects, the survival of polar bears is threatened

  • and in the long run, the species could disappear altogether.

  • This reality is represented in a very concrete (and simplified) way

  • by the melting of the ice in the plastic container of our experiment.

  • Sometimes, dramatic images like this one are needed to inspire to action.

  • If you do this experiment, share the kidscomments on the Animaplates website!

Global warming causes the average temperatures in the world to increase.

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