Arctic Animals Unit Study for Kids
My kids, like many kids, love learning new facts about animals. And they love learning about all types of animals!
I like learning about animals in different habitats or biomes. It’s always interesting to see how different animals adjust for challenges like cold weather, lack of food, etc. And it’s much easier to look at those difference when you focus on a group of animals that face similar struggles.
I’ve rounded up a bunch of arctic animal type resources for anyone who wants to do their own arctic animal study!
Arctic Animal Unit Study for Secular Homeschoolers
We have delved into the idea of unit studies more lately. I love being able to dive into one area and just enjoy absorbing all the information.
And my kids seem to naturally hang onto a topic for a few weeks at a time, so a unit study is perfect for them.
Winter is always a time where we start thinking about colder things – and arctic animals are no exception. They always look cold.
I’ve prepared resources to start you off on your unit study!
Included in this post:
- Vocabulary
- Book Suggestions
- Printables
- Videos/TV Shows/Documentaries
- Activities
- Games
- Sample Unit Study Plan
Arctic Animal Vocabulary
In case you need a place to start with some arctic animal vocabulary!
- Orca
- Polar Bear
- Snowy Owl
- Beluga Whale
- Arctic Fox
- Arctic Wolf
- Caribou
- Seal
- Puffin
- Musk Ox
- Narwhal
- Arctic Hare
- Walrus
- Hibernation
- Adaptations
Arctic Animal Books
There are tons of great arctic animal books. I’m going to include a list for non-fiction and a list for fiction books. I think a great unit study should include a bit of both, when possible.
When we do a unit study I like to help my kids find a chapter book at their level that is somehow related to the topic. Usually I just aim for something in the same setting. There are a few chapter books I found that take place in the arctic and look promising:
Arctic Animal Chapter Books
The Magic School Bus – Polar Beare Patrol by Judith Stamper
Magic Treehouse – Polar Bears Past Bedtime by Mary Pope Osborne
Secret Agent Jack Stalwart – The Fight for the Frozen Land: The Arctic by Elizabeth Singer Hunt
Freya & Zoose by Emily Butler
The Arctic Code (Dark Gravity Sequence) by Matthew J Kirby
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
The Snowstorm: The Unuk Quartet by Jorn Riel
Pugs of the Frozen North (A Not-So-Impossible Tale) by Philip Reeve
Arctic Animal Picture Books
Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights by Debbie S. Miller
The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale by Lydia Dabcovich
The Little Polar Bear by Jans de Beer (This is a whole set, and they’re all wonderful)
Kumak’s Fish: A Tale of the Far North by Michael Bania
Never Rub Noses with a Narwhal: An Alliterative Arctic ABC Book by Ruth Wellborn
Arctic Son by Jean George
Arctic Animal Nonfiction
Keep On!: The Story of Matthew Henson, Co-Discoverer of the North Pole by Deborah Hopkinson
Ice is Nice!: All About the North and South Poles (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library) by Bonnie Worth
The Magic School Bus in the Arctic by Joanna Cole
Polar Bears and the Arctic: A nonfiction Companion by Mary Pope Osborne
Arctic Animals (Who’s That?) by Tad Carpenter
Into the Arctic: Look Closer by Roger Priddy
Amazing Arctic Animals (Penguin Young Readers) by Jackie Glassman
Who Lives in the Arctic? by Susan Canizares
Where Do Polar Bears Live? by Sarah L. Thomson
Arctic Animal Printables
Printables can be a great way to add a few hands-on activities or worksheets to your unit study. There are many options online for a lot of different activities.
Arctic Animals Pack (tot through kinder)
Arctic Animals for Kinder – 2nd Grade
Arctic Pack from 3 Dinosaurs.com
Arctic Animals Color and Learn
Arctic Animal Facts
Arctic Animal Do-a-Dot Printables
Arctic Animal Videos/Documentaries/TV Shows/Movies
When it comes to learning about animals, I rely heavily on videos. There are so many great shows that are entertaining and factual. We’re especially big fans of Wild Kratts when it comes to animal information!
YouTube Videos:
How an Igloo Keeps You Warm by It’s Okay to be Smart
Exploring the Arctic for Kids by FreeSchool
TV Shows:
Curious George – The Big Sleepy (Season 2, Episode 16 pt 2)
Wilk Kratts:
- Mystery of the Weird Looking Walrus
- Polar Bears Don’t Dance
- Snow Runners
- Mystery of the North Pole Penguins
- Baby Tooth & Kid Musky
- Mystery of the Two-Horned Narwhal
- Musk Ox Mania
Octonauts:
- Octonauts and the Walrus Chief
- Octonauts and the Narwhal
- Octonauts and the Arctic Orcas
- Octonauts and the Polar Bear Strength
- Octonauts and the Walrus Pups
- Octonauts and the Emperor Penguins (if you’re including antarctic)
- Octonatus and the Great Arctic Aventure
- Octonauts and the Operation Deep Freeze
Netflix:
Frozen Planet by BBC Earth
Arctic Animal Activities
How do arctic animals stay warm in icy water?
Building Animal Dens – Engineering Project
Polar Bear camouflage activity
Arctic Animal Games
Games are a great way to add in a bit of learning and exposure to a subject! Even if they don’t learn about the subject, games are a great way to learn teamwork and sportsmanship. I’ve included a few free printable games and also a few games that would be a great addition to any game library.
Printable Arctic Games
Arctic Animal BINGO
Arctic Animal ISpy
Arctic Animal Games
Arctic Animal Unit Study Sample Plan
I’ve created a sample plan that’s very similar to what we did for an arctic unit study. It’s just a basic week-long plan that goes through a few common arctic animals.
Get the download here!
Enjoy your arctic animal unit study!
