New map lets students walk the Arctic without leaving the classroom

Schools across Canada can use the map, free of charge

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

The giant floor map measures 8 metres x 11 metres. (CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE IMAGE)


The giant floor map measures 8 metres x 11 metres. (CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE IMAGE)

A new education program aims to help southern classrooms visit Canada’s Arctic, without the expensive plane ticket.

Canadian students now have the chance to “walk” across the tundra and sea ice, captured on a giant floor map that can be rolled out in gyms or classrooms.

“Arctic Alive: Explore the Natural History of Canada’s Arctic” is a new portable learning kit produced by the Canadian Museum of Nature and Canadian Geographic Education, available free to schools starting in 2015.

The map includes real specimens of Arctic plants, animals, fossils and minerals, which can be adapted for students as young as kindergarten age through to Grade 12.

One lesson plan draws from real case studies of Arctic field expeditions by Canadian Museum of Nature scientists: students get a chance to plan the logistics for fieldwork and set goals to study and document their findings.

“The Canadian Museum of Nature’s historic expertise in Arctic research and exploration is well represented in the details that went into the map and the lesson plans,” said Meg Beckel, the museum’s president and CEO, in a Dec. 16 release.

“We drew from our national collections and scientific knowledge to create with Canadian Geographic this wonderful teaching tool about a part of our country where new discoveries continue to be made.”

The Arctic giant map is the latest in a series of portable maps produced by Canadian Geographic Education and is available to its 13,000 teacher members across Canada at no cost.

The organization has, in the past, produced maps on the boreal forest region, wildlife migration and Canada from space.

But Arctic Alive is the first to include real hands-on specimens, which are explained with species activity cards.

In you happen to be in Ottawa over the holidays, you can try out the map from Dec. 26 until Jan. 4 at the Canadian Museum of Nature at 240 McLeod St.

In the new year, schools or teachers can reserve the map by going to canadiangeographic.ca.

Share This Story

(0) Comments