Our Changing World Resources
Printed Materials
Pfeffer, T. The opening of a new landscape: Columbia Glacier at mid-retreat. American Geophysical Union, 2007.
Post, A. and E. LaChapelle. Glacier Ice. University of Washington Press, 1971.
Investigation 1: Ch-ch-ch-changes
Video “Alaskan Native Thoughts on Climate Change”
Video "George Divoky: The BirdWatcher Who Saw the Future” about a poplulation of black guillemots near Barrow, Alaska
Investigation 2: Impacts of Change in Glacier Ice
Explanation and photos of glacier topics can be found at Teachers Domain
Glaciers Online. Includes many photos and videos of glaciers from around the world.
USGS Benchmark Glaciers. Information, graphs and links to reports about Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers in Alaska.
NOVA Science Now: Video of a moving Jakobshavn glacier in Greenland
How Glaciers Move. Alaska Science Forum, Article #145
Journey to Alaska’s Glaciers: WebQuest to Explore How Glaciers Shape the Land
National Snow and Ice Data Center Repeat Photography of Glaciers
NOAA's Tides and Currents site and click on the Gulf of Alaska.
The Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets has an interactive world map of sea level rise.
Peninsula Online news article, "Small fry may be big problem"
Investigation 3: Bering Sea Expedition
Come on board the Healy! Video of researchers on the Healy.
“Climate-driven Change in the Northern Bering Sea." This video shows scientists aboard the icebreaker Healy talking about melting ice and how climate change is altering the food chains in the Bering Sea.
WebQuest Resources:
Part 1: Bering Sea Research
Physical/geographic description of the Bering Sea, with maps showing bathymetry, currents, habitats, islands, and sea.
Description of Bering Sea ecostystem and wildlife, and threats to wildlife
NASA site with satellite imagery showing and describing physical attributes, seasons and changes in the Bering Sea
Part 2: Organism Research
Brief description and photos of arctic species at risk due to climate change
Descriptions and photos of arctic marine life from diatoms to whales, with links to additional information
Alaska Ocean Observing System: Information and learning activities about marine mammals and birds
Interactive Bering Sea/arctic ecosystem with info on key species:
Canadian Museum of Nature: Life Under the Ice, Amphipods
Ice Algae
Wikipedia: Ice Algae
NOAA article about algae and other organisms that live within sea ice
Canadian Museum of Nature: Life Under the Ice, Arctic Sea Ice Core
Canadian Museum of Nature: Life Under the Ice, Microscopic phytoplankton
Copepods
The Biology of Copepods
Wikipedia: Copepods
Copepods
Krill
National Geographic Krill profile with photo
Wikipedia: Krill
Clam (Macoma spp)
Macoma clam
Jellyfish
The Jellies Zone
Jellyfish: Oregon Aquarium
Wikipedia: Jellyfish
Sea Urchins
Wikipedia: Sea Urchins
Canadian Museum of Nature: Life Under the Ice, Sea urchins
Sea Urchin Natural History
Bering Sea Seabirds
Least Auklet
Alaska Seabirds Information Series: Least Auklet
Whatbird.com – Least Auklet
Birds of North America Online: Least Auklet
Black-legged Kittiwake
Alaska Seabirds Information Series: Black-legged Kittiwake
Birds of North America Online: Black-legged Kittiwake
Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds: Black-legged Kittiwake
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Notebook Series: Eider
BBC interview with Jim Lovvorn: Spectacled Eider
Field notes: Spotlight On… Spectacled Eiders
Arctic cod
Canadian Museum of Nature: Life Under the Ice, Arctic Cod
Wikipedia: Arctic cod
Arctic cod information, description, distribution and ecology
Bering Sea Marine Mammals
Walrus
Canadian Museum of Nature: Life Under the Ice, Walrus
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Fact Sheet: Pacific Walrus Response to Arctic Sea Ice Losses
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Notebook Series: Walrus
Ringed Seal
Canadian Museum of Nature: Life Under the Ice: Ringed Seal
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Notebook Series: Ringed Seal
National Marine Mammal Laboratory: Ringed Seals
Bowhead Whale
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Notebook Series: Bowhead Whale
Bowhead Whales in Alaska
National Marine Mammal Laboratory: Bowhead Whales
Right Whale
National Marine Mammal Laboratory: Right Whales
North Pacific Right Whale
American Cetacean Society: Right Whale
Polar Bear
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Notebook Series: Polar Bear
Canadian Museum of Nature: Life Under the Ice: Life Under the Ice: Polar Bears
National Geographic: Polar Bear
Investigation 4: Changes in Our Local Environment
A Half-Century of Change in Arctic Alaskan Shrubs: A Photgraphic-Based Assessment
Video Saving a Community: Shishmaref, Alaska
Video Orville Huntington, “It’s a Changing Thing”
Video Richard Glenn, At Home in Two Worlds
Interview questions:
Observing Locally, Connecting Globally Sample Interview Questions for Grades K-12
Student Led Weather Interview for Grades 7-12
Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op Comprehensive Environmental Monitoring Interview
Interview Questions from Climate Change North
Alaska’s Digital Archives may also have historic photos of your community and surrounding areas.
Investigation 5: Explaining Impacts of a Warming Climate
Ideas for introducing students to digital storytelling:
Center for Digital Storytelling
Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
Creating a Storyboard
Storyboard Organizer to help students plan their digital story.
This movie is an example of using still photos, text, and music to create the story: Global Warming - Climate Change
CFL Lightbulbs in Plain English: An easy, but effective way to create a story, using narration, cutouts, a white board, and hands.
The following were created by students:
AP Biology Legacy Project
The Rock Cycle Movie What is Global Warming? Text, images and student narration.
