Animals like walrus and polar bears can’t wear warm clothes so they grow a thick layer of fat, or blubber, to keep out the cold. Imagine you are one of them and follow the steps below. Be aware: this will get messy!

There are two ways of doing the activity.

Activity steps - the messy way

1. Fill a large container with lots of ice and water.
2. Put one hand in the cold water and time how long you can keep it there before the cold becomes unbearable.
3. Make a note of the time you lasted.
4. Now smear your hand with lots of fat and repeat the experiment, timing how long you can keep your fatty hand in the water.
5. Compare the two times.

Activity steps - the clean way

1. Fill a large container with lots of ice and water.
2. Put one hand in the cold water and time how long you can keep it there before the cold becomes unbearable.
3. Fill one of the bags or gloves two thirds full with fat.
4. Put one of your hands in another bag or glove then push it into the fat filled-bag or glove. Hey presto! A blubber glove.
5. Roll the ends of the bags or gloves together and seal with tape to stop any fat escaping.
6. Put your blubber glove in your freezing cold water and compare times as before.

Activity materials

• Large container or bucket
• Lots of ice
• Timer
• Fat (e.g. margarine or animal equivalents such as suet, butter or lard)
• Plastic bag or rubber glove

Animals have adapted to living in the freezing temperatures of the Arctic in different ways. Some have thick fur, and others have a layer of blubber. The blubber or thick fur is known as an adaptation. Have a look at the Arctic life gallery to see how other animals have adapted to life in the frozen north.

A polar bear has several adaptations to keep warm in the frozen north. Polar bears like other mammals in the Arctic have a thick layer of blubber or fat to help insulate their bodies.

Although they look cream coloured, because of their fur, their skin is in fact black. Dark colours absorb more energy from the sun and this helps them keep warm as well. If you would like to investigate how dark colours absorb heat energy from light compared to light colours, try the albedo activity.

A polar bear's fur is also interesting. Each individual strand is a hollow tube, using air as an insulator. This is similar to how many houses are insulated and also uses the same principle as a feather duvet or comforter.