Arctic Animals Homeschool Mini Unit Study

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The Arctic is home to some of the most fascinating animals on the planet, and it’s the perfect time of year to teach your kids about the animals that live in the cold, perpetually winter environment. An Arctic animals unit study can open your kids’ eyes to the vast landscape of the Arctic region, and how remarkable it is that there are critters who survive and thrive amidst the ice and snow.

Arctic animals - unit study

In this post, we’ll share engaging ideas for an Arctic animals unit study and introduce a great collection of Arctic animal printables to make your lessons hands-on and interactive. Make the most of your winter homeschooling with fun unit studies like this one!


Fun Facts About Arctic Animals

  1. Polar Bears: These impressive creatures can swim for hours and travel great distances across the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. Did you know the fur of polar bears isn’t actually white but transparent? It reflects light, giving it that snowy appearance.
  2. Arctic Foxes: With their thick fur and small bodies, Arctic foxes are perfectly adapted to retain heat. They can even use their tails as a cozy blanket, wrapping it around themselves when they rest!
  3. Walruses: These marine mammals use their long tusks for pulling themselves up and onto the ice. They also use tusks for defense. Walruses can weigh up to 2,000 pounds!
  4. Snowy Owls: These stunning birds, with their bright white feathers, are skilled hunters. They can spot prey even in the dim Arctic winter light.
  5. Beluga Whales: Known as the “canaries of the sea,” belugas are social creatures that use a variety of sounds to communicate.
Captivating snowy owl gliding over snow-covered field in Québec, capturing winter's essence.

Ideas for Your Arctic Animals Unit Study

We have all kinds of things to make your unit study engaging and interactive.

Arctic Animals Unit Study
  1. Winter Animal Flashcards
    Introduce your children to various Arctic species with winter animal flashcards. Each card features a picture of the animal and its name, making them perfect for memory games, vocabulary building, or as prompts for creative storytelling.
  2. Learn About Anatomy
    Use the Arctic animal anatomy printables to dive deeper into how these creatures survive in extreme cold. For instance, study the thick blubber of seals or the water-repellent fur of polar bears.
  3. Animal Tracks Exploration
    Using the winter animal tracks printable, encourage your kids to match tracks to the correct animals. This can lead to a discussion about how animals move and adapt their behaviors for hunting or escaping predators. (This is a two-part printable so make sure you download the second part here.)
  4. Winter Scavenger Hunt
    Turn your lesson into an adventure with a winter scavenger hunt. The printable includes items like spotting animal tracks, identifying specific Arctic species, or even observing winter-themed items in your local environment if you can’t explore snowy areas.
  5. Art and Creativity
    Incorporate art projects such as this popsicle stick walrus craft or a cute polar bear bookmark. Your kids can also try drawing Arctic landscapes or creating a 3D diorama of an Arctic ecosystem.
  6. Hands-On Science
    Conduct experiments like testing the insulating properties of blubber using a bag of shortening and ice water, or do this fun snowstorm in a jar activity.
polar bear bookmark

Why Study Arctic Animals?

Learning about Arctic animals goes beyond science. By exploring how these animals survive and thrive, kids gain an appreciation for the amazing world God made. It also teaches children about adaptation, environmental stewardship, and the wonder of biodiversity.


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