In this lesson the children use real animal coverings and representations of them to discover basic differences between animals. They also think about how the characteristics of a specific skin type helps an animal to survive in its environment. If undertaking a study of animals during the cold days of winter, the children could focus on just the animals of the Arctic or Antarctic, or other cold areas of the world.

The activities engage the students in a variety of classification and sorting activities and it incorporates the use of language arts through new vocabulary and the writing process so many content standards are met simultaneously.

It is good to note that the lesson also provides a rich fabric of support resources including sanitary reminders for handling real animal skins and extensive background information regarding animal coverings. (author/nmb)

In this activity children use artistic and other skills to create a mural of land, sky, and sea animals in their habitats after reading informational texts about the animals. Try letting the class mural include only animals in winter or from cold places. Some children can paint the background for the mural or animals. Others can draw or cut pictures out of old magazines or books, but everyone can play a part in this large group project which could take days to complete. Curriculum connections and a list of non-fiction books about animals are included in this resource. A take home activity is included, too, so families can be involved. (author/nmb)

In this game on the Seasame Street website, children move the  cursor (star) over one of three environments, ocean, jungle, or arctic, to find a variety of animals.  When a player finds and clicks on an animal, Mr. Snuffeluffagus, Snuffie, tells some simple facts about that animal.  During your study of animals in cold places ask children search for animals in the arctic environment. (author/nmb)

The EC Bookshelf is a compilation of picture books that focus on one or more Ohio Early Learning Content Standards or topics.  This bookshelf celebrates all things polar.   Certainly, young girls and boys enjoying reading and learning about the animals of the polar areas, but they may not realize that polar bears and penguins are inhabitants of opposite ends of the earth.  In this bookshelf,  both fiction and non-fiction texts provide information, photographs, and more. 
Remember, the Bookshelf is divided into three age groups.  Each age band includes books that are especially appropriate for a certain age, but most of the books will appeal to children of all ages.  Why not experience the joy in all of them! (author/nmb)

This lesson describes how to use fiction and nonfiction texts and careful questioning techniques to help PreK or older children identify factual information about animals.  Children begin by noting factual information from books that are read aloud.  Then they also compare the information learned in fictional and factual texts by recording their ideas on charts.  Using the internet, children can gather additional information about the topic. 

This lesson is planned to study ants, but there is a set of attachements on for studying frogs and polar bears .  It also would be an appropriate experience to use during an early childhood classroom inquiry project.  (author/ncl/nmb)

Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears is an online magazine integrating science, literacy, and the polar regions.  In each month's issue, you can:

Explore the Arctic and Antarctica
Learn science concepts and literacy strategies
Read about misconceptions, equity, and technology
Discover standards-based lessons and resources
Integrate polar science into your curriculum. 

The website is funded to provide resources to teachers of children in grades k - 5, but the images, online books, podcasts, and technology information will be very helpful to teachers of younger children, too.