
Our MWF students have spent the week learning about polar animals. Here are some of the things we talked about-where the North and South Pole are, the North Pole and South Pole are covered with snow and ice, the North Pole and South Pole are really cold all the time, we identified polar animals and where they live, learned penguins live at the South Pole and polar bears live at the North Pole.
Today I asked the children, "How do polar animals keep warm?" After a variety of answers, I told them polar animals are covered in blubber. This brought lots of giggles especially when I asked them to say the word 'blubber'. I had a five gallon bucket filled with ice and very, very, very, very cold water. One at a time, each child had an opportunity to put their hand in the water. After they quickly pulled their hand out, I told them I was going to 'turn them into a polar animal'. Each child chose a polar animal and told me where that animal lived. Then I covered their hand in 'blubber'. Inside a large zip-loc bag I have put lots of shortening and another zip-loc bag is inside the shortening bag (because really who wants to be covered in blubber). The children put their hand inside the blubber and then put their hand back into the water. Now they can feel how blubber keeps polar animals warm.
Want to do more? Go to the library and pick up some books on polar animals and stay warm!