Welcome to the world of amazing animals! Today, we’re going to learn about the incredible polar bear. Did you know that the scientific name for a polar bear is Ursus maritimus? This name means “maritime bear,” which is perfect because polar bears spend a lot of time in the sea!
Polar bears are mostly found in the Arctic, which is a very cold place at the top of the world. Even though they are born on land, they spend most of their lives on the ice and in the water. If you look at a map, you can see where the Arctic is, but be careful—just thinking about it might make your fingers feel cold!
Polar bears are really big! They can weigh up to 1,700 pounds and grow as tall as ten feet. Imagine running into a giant, fluffy carpet that walks! Even though they are huge, polar bears rarely attack humans. But just to be safe, it’s best not to cover yourself in ketchup around them!
Polar bear cubs are born in a cozy den made of snow. When they are ready, they come out and start their long journey to the sea with their mom. They have to be careful not to get sat on by their big, fluffy family members!
Sadly, there are only about 25,000 polar bears left in the world. One of the reasons for this is global warming, which is causing the ice they live on to melt. This makes it harder for them to survive.
Even with these challenges, polar bears are truly amazing animals. They are strong, brave, and perfectly adapted to life in the icy Arctic. Let’s do our best to help protect these incredible creatures!
Polar Bear Habitat Diorama: Create a small diorama to represent the Arctic habitat of polar bears. Use a shoebox, cotton balls for snow, and blue paper for water. Add small toy figures or draw your own polar bears to place in the diorama. Think about what other animals might live in the Arctic and add them too. Discuss with your classmates why each element is important for the polar bear’s survival.
Polar Bear Temperature Experiment: Fill two bowls with ice water. In one bowl, place a plastic bag filled with vegetable shortening (to mimic blubber) and in the other, just a plain plastic bag. Put your hand in each bag and dip it into the ice water. Which one feels warmer? Discuss how the blubber helps polar bears stay warm in the icy Arctic.
Polar Bear Story Time: Imagine you are a polar bear cub. Write a short story about your first journey to the sea with your mother. What challenges do you face? How do you feel about the melting ice? Share your story with the class and talk about how polar bears might feel about the changes in their environment.
