For a fun hands-on project, we are making an edible arctic habitat diorama. Too, you’ll love my pages Arctic Region and Arctic and Inuit unit study too.
Not only for educational purposes but also to enjoy the tasty reward of our efforts, we’re making this fun diorama.
Like the equator, the invisible lines of latitude and longitude, the Arctic circles are not real red lines on the Earth.
They are invisible and these polar circles are located near the poles of the earth, at 66.6° N and S latitude.
There are the Arctic Polar Circle and the Antarctic Polar Circle.
The Antarctic Circle contains Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, the Weddell Sea, and the Balleny Islands.
The conditions are so harsh in Antarctica and its surrounding areas that the only people who live there are scientists, temporarily.
Very few creatures make their home in Antarctica, on land and in the surrounding oceans.
You would see killer whales, blue whales, krill, and elephant seals.
Additionally, emperor and Adelie penguins are the only type of penguins to live on our coldest continent Antarctica.
Further, the Arctic Circle includes the Arctic Ocean, the Chukchi, East Siberian, Laptev, Kara, Barents, White, Greenland, and Beaufort seas as well as parts of Greenland, Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Russia.
There are a lot more animals that make their home in the Arctic Circle.
For example, there are Arctic foxes, caribou, Beluga whales, lemmings, puffins, polar bears, walruses, narwhals, and much more.
Unlike Antarctica, humans inhabit many parts of the Arctic Circle.
BOOKS ABOUT THE ARCTIC FOR KIDS
First, look at some of these books about the Arctic.
I prefer living books when you can find them.
12 Arctic Books about People & Animals of the Arctic
Studying about the region of the Arctic is a fascinating topic. Grab some of these books about life in the Arctic and animals of the Arctic.
How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included for aspiring young snow scientists!
This arctic adaptation of “This is the House that Jack Built” follows polar bears, walruses, seals, narwhals and beluga whales as they chase each other around “the ice that floats in the Arctic waters.” Not only is the rhythmic, cumulative prose good for early readers; it is a pure delight to read aloud. The “For Creative Minds” section helps children learn how these animals live in the cold, icy arctic region.
This Incredible Planet series provides young readers with interesting information about the Earth’s most fascinating creatures.
Beautiful color photography makes each animal come to life. Learn about the Arctic fox’s habitat, diet, breeding, lifespan, behavior, threats, and so much more!
A wonderful winter book for kids from the author and illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series, now in paperback! Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow.
Read and find out about how animals cope with winter in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.
This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.
Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow? Probably not. Butterflies can't survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate. Woodchucks don't like cold weather either, but they don't migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. How do these and other animals handle the cold and snow of winter?
Read and find out in the proven winner Animals in Winter!
This is a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades.
Today’s Arctic communities have all the comforts of modern living. Yet the Inuit survived in this harsh landscape for hundreds of years with nothing but the land and their own ingenuity. Join authors Alootook Ipellie and David MacDonald as they explore the amazing innovations of traditional Inuit and how their ideas continue to echo around the world. Some inventions are still familiar to us: the one-person watercraft known as a kayak still retains its Inuit name. Other innovations have been replaced by modern technology: slitted snow goggles protected Inuit eyes long before sunglasses arrived on the scene. Andother ideas were surprisingly inspired: using human-shaped stone stacks (Inunnguat) to trick and trap caribou. Many more Inuit innovations are explored here, including: • Dog sleds • Shelter • Clothing • Kids’ stuff • Food preservation • Medicine. In all, more than 40 Inuit items and ideas are showcased through dramatic photos and captivating language. From how these objects were made, to their impact on contemporary culture, The Inuit Thought of It is a remarkable catalogue of Inuit invention.
Tiny Animals Figures Party: 18 PCS Package include orca, walrus, white owl, reindeer, husky, 2pcs seal, 2pcs beluga whale, 2pcs arctic wolf, 2pcs arctic fox, 2pcs arctic rabbit, 2pcs polar bear figurines and igloo model.
Who Are The Eskimos is perfect for early to middle elementary students and makes a great addition to your library.
“A treat for middle-graders of an ecological bent.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) At the top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic. In the winter, it is a cold and barren land, where few animals can survive. But when spring comes, it attracts animals from every corner of the earth. This lushly illustrated picture book celebrates the resilient wildlife and barren, beautiful landscapes of the Arctic Circle, tracing the awe-inspiring spring migration of millions of creatures to the Arctic and reminding the reader of the hardships and harmony of life in the wild.Back matter includes additional information about the arctic, a glossary, and an index.
When you live in the Arctic in winter, everything is a shade of white. A young girl looks around her home in the Arctic and sees only white, white, white...but one day her grandfather takes her on a journey through the tundra. And at the end of their cold walk across the ice, they find something special that brings color into their world.
In 1893, Fridjtof Nansen set sail in the Fram, a ship specially designed and built to be frozen into the polar ice cap, withstand its crushing pressures, and travel with the sea’s drift closer to the North Pole than anyone had ever gone before. Experts said such a ship couldn't be built and that the voyage was tantamount to suicide. This brilliant first-person account, originally published in 1897, marks the beginning of the modern age of exploration. Nansen vividly describes the dangerous voyage and his 15-month-long dash to the North Pole by sledge. Farthest North is an unforgettable tale and a must-read for any armchair explorer.
Can you imaging living in a place where it's so cold your breath turns instantly into tiny ice crystals that glitter in the sun? Where temperatures can drop fifty degrees below zero and even lower and the sun only comes out for a few hours per day? In This Place Is Cold readers will learn how people and animals survive in Alaska's ferocious cold, and how because of global warming this region is now in trouble. Vicki Cobb and Barbara Lavallee travelled the world together to research this groundbreaking geography series, that is now updated and redesigned to appeal to today's readers.
Next, look at some of these fun facts about the walrus of the Arctic.
5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT THE WALRUS OF THE ARCTIC
- The only natural predators of the walrus are Orcas and polar bears.
- The walrus is nicknamed the Giant or King of the Arctic. Adult walrus are typically about 7.25 to 11.5 feet long and can weigh up to 1.5 tons (3,000 lb).
- There are two recognized species which are the Atlantic walrus and the Pacific walrus. They are divided geographically. Atlantic walruses live in the coastal areas of Canada and Greenland. Pacific walruses live in the northern seas of Alaska and Russia.
- Both male and female walruses can have tusks that reach almost 3 feet long, measure that out with a measuring tape to be impressed by this feature made of dentine.
- These giant pinnipeds can withstand temperatures as low as -35°C (-31°F) due to the layers of blubber stored beneath their skin that help to insulate them from the cold.
This paper plate walrus craft is just too cute to pass up.
Learn more about blubber with my Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
You can find out more about the walrus and other arctic animals with the Ocean Anatomy book, a favorite resource of mine.
Check out this step-by-step tutorial for drawing a walrus to include a little more art in your study.
This is great for fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and building those skills in following directions.
MORE ARCTIC ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
- Julie of the Wolves Free Hands-on Arctic Unit Study
- Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables
- Arctic Winter Animal Craft Ideas: Make Your Own Felt Puppets
- Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert
- Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook & Unit Study Resources
- How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts
EDIBLE ARCTIC OR ANTARCTIC HABITAT DIORAMA
If you need animals for your arctic habitat diorama these Mini Arctic Animals Figurines Set have a great variety and can also be used as a model for drawing, in sensory bins and trays, as well as other types of dioramas.
You can make a map of either the Arctic Circle or Antarctic Circle using my simple instructions below and focus on any polar animal found in either region.
Also, we realized we had made the Arctic salt dough a few years back so we switched midstream and made this for Antarctica. Again, these directions can be for either the Arctic or Antarctica circle.
But today I am going to dig a little deeper into the walrus (found in the Arctic).
You will need:
- Sugar cookie dough
- Cling wrap
- Baking sheet
- Map of Arctic or Antarctic circle
- White frosting
- Blue food coloring
- Red vines (licorice)
Find a map of the Antarctic Circle that you like and print it out or you can use an image from an atlas or map.
Cover the map in plastic wrap to protect the page.
Slightly soften your favorite sugar cookie recipe or store-bought prepared cookie dough.
Press gently and mold into the shape of your land mass on top of the plastic wrap.
Try to keep the thickness uniform so that it bakes evenly.
Flip the cookie dough map onto the baking sheet and bake according to the package directions.
While you are waiting you can use a plate or whatever you like as a base.
Mix a little blue food coloring into some of your frosting and cover the round surface with it.
Remove cookie from oven and allow to cool completely before transferring to the center of your frosting.
Frost the cookie map with white frosting (snow and ice).
Add animals to your map.
Finish up by creating the invisible polar circle around your map using red vines or you can get a small squeeze tube of red food coloring to use.
