"Habitat Degradation: Arctic Melt"
Artwork
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Visual and Performing Arts
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Jill Pelto Gallery
What it is
- This watercolor painting by scientist and artist Jill Pelto uses Arctic sea ice data to illustrate the effects of its critical decline.
- This painting helps students understand how arctic foxes are struggling to cope with habitat degradation due to the rapid warming in the Arctic.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The resource transforms scientific data into meaningful artwork that students can explore.
- This painting connects to various important concepts: animal migration, extinction, animal adaptation, group behavior, biodiversity loss, and Arctic ecosystem decline.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with line graphs.
Differentiation
- In science and math classes, students could analyze and interpret the scientific data shown in this picture.
- This image could be used as an exit ticket. The teacher could show it on the screen and ask students what emotions the watercolor evokes in them after learning about a relevant topic.
- Art classes could use this as an example of line art or graphic symbolism.
- Students can learn more about the challenges that wild animals face by exploring this TEDx video, this online art exhibition, and this article.
From the scientist review
This resource displays the influence of extreme temperatures on the Arctic Sea, creating changes in the species' habitat and making response difficult. Although data needs to be updated, this resource is recommended for teaching.
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