Connecting polar research to people around the planet
Since the Polar Educators International network formed during International Polar Year 2012, we have been supporting educators’ professional development and sharing polar education learning resources across our community, raising awareness of environmental issues and the importance of our polar regions in both formal and informal settings around the world.
Capturing the energy and enthusiasm about collaborating on polar education and outreach during the International Polar Year, the learning activities Polar Science and Global Climate: An International Resource for Education and Outreach were co-developed by an international group of educators, polar scientists and community members for a wide audience back in 2010. Read More
Inspired by the original publication and working in partnership with the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), we have begun developing, revising, updating and exploring polar education resources suitable for a range of ages and settings from the classroom into the community and beyond. It has never been more urgent for a generation of learners to understand the critical role the polar regions play in driving global climate and for polar scientists to help us all understand the impact of climate change on our biosphere.
We have grouped these resources under the six themes: Oceans, Land, Ice, Atmosphere, People, Space. All resources are tried and tested for an international audience, and can be used either as standalone activities or as part of a series focusing on the polar regions.
We hope that polar educators around the world will be inspired to use these resources to help bring the polar research alive for learners everywhere.
Lesson at a Glance:
- theme
- key words
- short description
- type of resource
- audience suitability and
- duration
Connect
Provides the polar research context, discussion prompts and a guide to help connect research concepts and approaches to the learning activity. Some activities also include personal accounts and observations from the polar regions.
Learn
Provides all the information you need to prepare for and carry out the activity, including a materials list, lesson planning, step by step instructions, teaching tips and additional resources such as visuals, apps and links.
Act
Provides ideas for positive action, taking the learning out into the community through communication and public engagement projects, creativity and careers tips. We hope these ideas will inspire you and your learners to communicate your own experiences of polar science to your wider communities.
Oceans
Ice
Land
People
Atmosphere
Space
Polar Education Resources

Arctic - Oceans - How did my water bottle end up in the Arctic?
Polar Resource Book Project
Polar Research Theme: Ocean
Key Words: Arctic, ocean circulation, microplastics, plastics, pollution, riparian
Description: This group activity is inspired by an Arctic researcher who studies the distribution and toxicity of marine plastics, now found in oceans around the world. It connects sources of local littering to widespread plastic pollution carried to the Arctic Read More
Type: field trip, group activity formal, group activity informal
Duration: Preparation time – around 30 minutes + visit to site. Activity time – 1 day
Suitable For: youth ages 10+, community groups

Guided bus and field activities
PEI Resource
Polar Research Theme: Ice, land, people
Key Words: geology, weather, journal, storytelling, drawing, history
Description: These bus activities developed for participants in the PEI Iceland Workshop can be used in two ways.
- Adapt activities for any field trip or outside activity
- Teach others about Iceland
Type: field trip, group activity formal, group activity informal
Duration: Variable
Suitable For: youth ages 8+, community groups

Why is a frozen world necessary?
PEI Resource
Polar Research Theme: Ice
Key Words: communication, storytelling, ice cores, drilling, glaciers, education, Antarctica, Third-pole
Description: How do scientists study the rapidly changing cryosphere and educate others? Learn more from presentations by 4 researchers:
- How our frozen world connect us all: Peter Neff
- Vast & Fast – The International Thwaites Glacier Project: Knut Christianson
- COLDEX–Search for the Oldest Ice Exploration: Ed Brook
- Highest Ice – The 3rd Pole: Inga Beck
Type: Video
Duration: 80 minutes
Suitable For: youth ages15+, adults