Lesson overview

An introduction to the issue of Arctic sea ice, this lesson uses a combination of satellite imagery, Google Earth, video and online research to examine what is happening to sea ice extent in the Arctic. Students will continue by investigating the potential environmental, political and economic impacts of a reduction in Arctic sea ice.

Learning outcomes

• Understand that summer sea ice coverage is decreasing in the Arctic
• Understand the climate-related and habitat-related impacts of Arctic sea ice loss
• Understand the political and economic impacts of Arctic sea ice loss
• Demonstrate understanding of interrelated impacts of environmental change

Lesson steps

1. What is happening to Arctic sea ice? (15 mins)
   Show pupils images relating to the decline in summer sea ice coverage. If using Google Earth, downloads from the NSIDC show the trends well: http://nsidc.org/data/google_earth/
   Current models have failed to predict the rate of summer sea ice loss in recent years.
2. Potential impact of sea ice loss in the Arctic – climate (15 mins)
   Hand out Student Sheet 5a Arctic Ice Impacts, for pupils to make notes on the various potential impacts of sea ice loss in the Arctic. Sea ice loss could have an impact on the global ocean circulation system. Show the video on Ocean currents to the class.
3. Potential impact of sea ice loss in the Arctic – habitat and biodiversity (10 mins)
   Continuing with Student Sheet 5a, use materials from WWF on threats to habitat and biodiversity in the Arctic: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/arctic/
4. Potential impact of sea ice loss in the Arctic – political and economic (10 mins)
   Continuing with Student Sheet 5a, use materials to show how the sea ice loss could open up the Arctic to further commercial exploitation. What would the total loss of Arctic sea ice in the summer mean for shipping and commerce in the region? Use the Guardian article for more context: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/17/arctic-exploitation-battleground
5. Extended writing (10 mins)
   Pupils answer the question on the impacts of Arctic sea ice shrinking as an extended writing exercise. (use Student Sheet 5a)

England

GCSE Geography

• Locational knowledge
  Appreciation of different spatial and political contexts.
  Recognition of important links and inter-relationships between places and environments at a range of scales from local to global.

• Maps, fieldwork and geographical skills
  Use a range of maps, atlases, Ordnance Survey maps, satellite imagery, and other graphic and digital material including the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to obtain, illustrate, analyse and evaluate geographical information.
  The ability to identify questions and sequences of enquiry to write descriptively, analytically and critically.

• Place: processes and relationships
  Environmental challenges of the Arctic.
  The importance of cultural and political factors in the Arctic.
  The relationship of the Arctic with the wider world.
  Importance of the oceans.

• Physical geography: processes and change
  The spatial and temporal characteristics, of climatic change and evidence for different causes, including human activity.

• People and environment: Processes and interaction
  An overview of the distribution and characteristics of the Arctic region, including the interdependence of climate, soil, water, plants, animals and humans.
  An overview of the distribution and characteristics of the Arctic region, including the processes and interactions that operate within the Arctic at different scales.
  An overview of the distribution and characteristics of the Arctic region, including issues related to biodiversity and to sustainable use and management.

• Human geography: processes and change
  An introduction to the consequences of uneven development at global level as a cause of changes in the nature of industry and investment and geo-political relationships in the Arctic region.

USA

National Geography Standards Grades 9-12

• The World in Spatial Term
  Standard 1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.
• Places and Regions
  Standard 6: How culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions.
• The Uses of Geography
  Standard 18: How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.
• Human Systems
  Standard 13: How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface.