Arctic Climate Perspectives
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Social Studies, Earth and Space Sciences
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 PBS
What it is
- This resource consists of a video, article, and discussion questions on how climate change is affecting the lives of the Iñupiaq people who live in Barrow, Alaska.
- Students will learn how warmer temperatures and melting ice have changed the Iñupiaq people's subsistence way of life.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The background essay and discussion questions allow for the enrichment and assessment of student understanding.
- The video can be viewed online or downloaded.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers may want to show students Barrow on a map or globe.
- Teachers can share this resource on Google Classroom.
Differentiation
- The Discussion Questions could be used for whole group or small group discussions or individual writing prompts.
- Geography classes could look at a world map to determine other regions that are likely to experience the effects of climate change. Students consider how climate change impacts polar regions, coastal regions, and islands.
- Other resources on this topic include this lesson on arctic warming and coastal erosion in Alaska, this Google Earth timelapse on the changes in ice in the Arctic, and this video on how life has changed in the Alaskan Yukon Delta.
From the scientist review
This resource includes a 4-minute video and supporting textual information describing the impact of climate change on the Indigenous lifestyles of Iñupiaq communities living near Barrow, Alaska. The video itself seems to be from between 2007 and 2009, but nothing in it is outdated. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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