How do polar bears keep warm? - Activity - Year 1

In an engaging activity designed for Year 1 students, children explore how polar bears manage to stay warm in their icy habitats. The activity begins with each child donning a pair of plastic gloves. Then, with the help of a partner, one of the gloves is covered in lard to simulate the insulating effect of a polar bear's blubber. Before the experiment starts, the children are prompted to think about and discuss how they believe polar bears keep warm. Following this, they place ice cubes on both hands—one hand with the lard-covered glove and the other without—and observe the differences. This hands-on activity allows the children to feel firsthand the insulating properties of the lard, providing a practical understanding of how polar bears maintain their body heat in extremely cold environments.

The concept of seasons and their changes is another topic of interest for Year 1 students. They delve into questions such as why we have different seasons and which months are associated with each season. This part of their learning journey helps them to grasp the cyclical nature of the environment and the patterns that govern the climate throughout the year. By understanding these fundamental concepts, children begin to appreciate the diversity of the world's climates and how they affect both humans and animals like polar bears.