Northern Resources

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Northern Websites

These websites are all specific to the north. They are sorted into three categories to help you find the sites you need:

  • Teacher Sites - Including Lesson Plans/Projects/ Backgrounders
  • Research Sites – Primarily useful for student research
  • Calculators – Sites where students input data to get immediate results

To find the site you’re looking for, click on the linked list below, or browse through the alphabetical list of sites. The list includes brief description of each site.

Northern Teacher Sites – Including lesson plans/projects/ backgrounders

Northern Research Sites – Information for students and teachers

Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op
http://www.taiga.net/coop/index.html


In a Nutshell:

This site focuses on monitoring three areas of northern data: climate change, contaminants and regional development. It contains a wealth of detailed information, graphs, and community project ideas.

Don’t Miss:

Created by: Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Society

Scope: Northern

Target Grades: 6–12

Relevance: Background info, project ideas.

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ARM Education Center
http://education.arm.gov/


In a Nutshell:

An Alaska-based site on climate change, with a special emphasis on polar bears.

Don’t Miss:

  • Global Warming – Backgrounders at beginner and advanced levels
  • Past Question – FAQ of students’ questions to scientists
  • Lesson Planshttp://education.arm.gov/teacherslounge/lessons.stm - an impressive collection, particularly for science teachers
  • About the Bear – Scroll down for a list of links to polar bear information. Don’t miss Shrinking Polar Bears, based on research from Churchill, Manitoba.

Created by: The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program, U.S. Department of Energy’s

Scope: Northern – Alaska and northern Canada

Target Grades: 5–12

Relevance: Excellent background information on climate change in the north and polar bears; good lesson plans for science teachers.

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Climate Change in Canada Poster Site
http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/posters/


In a Nutshell:

This site supports a series of seven posters depicting the regional impacts of climate change in Canada (FREE ordering info on this site). Lots of region-specific information on Nunavut,Yukon & NWT. An excellent, informative site.

Don’t Miss:

  • Nunavut/Western Arctic – Regional-specific information – Click on regional names under the Canadian map to bring up lots of information about climate change specific to Nunavut and Western Arctic (Yukon and NWT).
  • Health & Safety, Communities, Land Resources, Water Resources, Coastal Regions – All these topics, listed down the side, contain links to specifically northern information.
  • Curriculum Tools
    Contain background information for Nunavut and Western Arctic, and lesson plans for teaching the posters.
  • View and Order Posters – Click on the poster you want to order, and the ordering information will appear. These posters are free. Note: The Nunavut poster is available in Inuktitut (refer to order # M27-01-1787N).

Created by: Natural Resources Canada

Scope: Nunavut, Yukon, NWT & Canadian

Target Grades: 8–12

Relevance: Excellent regional information, teaching activities to go with posters.

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Climate Change in the Arctic
http://www.utmsi.utexas.edu//k12/index.htm


In a Nutshell:

This website, posted by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, is chock full of lesson plans, student work samples, and useful links.

Don’t Miss:

  • Lesson Plans – At elementary, middle school and secondary levels.

Created by: University of Texas Marine Science Institute

Scope: Northern

Target Grades: K–12

Relevance: Good teaching resource for northern teachers.

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Energy Solutions Centre
http://www.nrgsc.yk.ca/


In a Nutshell:

Links to green power and energy efficiency initiatives in Yukon.

Don’t Miss:

  • Quick Links to the Major Programs (scroll down a little to find these):
    • Green Power Initiative
    • Energy Efficiency Initiative
    • Yukon Housing Programs
    • CANMET Energy Technology Branch
    • Office of Energy Efficiency
    • Moving on Sustainable Transportation
    • EcoAction 2000

Created by: Yukon Development Corporation and Natural Resources Canada

Scope: Yukon, Northern, Canadian

Target Grades: 8–12

Relevance: Good background info on current Yukon energy initiatives.

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GLOBE Canada
http://www.globecanada.ca/


In a Nutshell:

A site designed to link GLOBE schools and students across Canada. Offers additional northern field protocols, and hotlinks with other Canada-specific sites for monitoring environmental and climate change.

Don’t Miss:

  • Field studies – for teachers and students to understand climate change first hand – permafrost studies, dendrochronology (tree ring growth) studies, environmental monitoring for climate change
  • Contacts – Canadian scientists involved in field protocols, other GLOBE Canada teachers and students
  • Links – GLOBE, Naturewatch sites (e.g. Plantwatch, Frogwatch)

Created by: Yukon Teachers Association in partnership with Yukon Government, and Yukon College, and with funding provided by NSERC.

Scope: Northern, Canadian

Target Grades: K–12

Relevance: Adds a Canadian northern element to the GLOBE Program, providing hands-on activities for teachers and students to undertake environmental monitoring for climate change. These field protocols are under development with Canadian scientists.

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Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada)
http://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/


In a Nutshell:

An Inuit environmental perspective on several issues, including climate change.

Don’t Miss:

  • Climate Change – To reach the climate change page, click on then Activities/Initiatives, then Environment.

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Northern Climate Exchange
http://www.taiga.net/nce/


In a Nutshell:

This site is a treasure-trove of information, much of it specific to the north. As well as up-to-date background information, tips, and links, it contains a schools site that is reviewed separately below.

Don’t Miss:

  • What’s new – current issues and events in climate change - news programs, reports, etc.

Created by: Northern Climate Exchange

Scope: Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon & Global

Target Grades: 7–12

Relevance: Very relevant background information.

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Northern Climate Exchange Schools Program
http://www.taiga.net/nce/schools/


In a Nutshell:

An excellent educational site for teachers and students in Yukon, NWT and Nunavut. It includes resources, links, and classroom projects.

Don’t Miss:

  • Teacher’s Corner – Click on Climate Change Resources for some great informational links, then on Instructional Resources for class projects related to northern climate change
  • Student’s Corner – Student-friendly links to resources, plus Ask the Expert, a chance to post email question.
  • Pilot Project – Information on an ambitious inter-school project on climate change in the north.
  • What’s Newhttp://www.taiga.net/nce/schools/new.html – Great links – some interactive – including games and learning materials
  • Classroom Data Exchange – Links to northern school projects

Created by: Northern Climate Exchange

Scope: Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories & Global

Target Grades: K–12

Relevance: Excellent teaching resources

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Taiga Net
http://www.taiga.net/


In a Nutshell:

Taiga Net is a network of sites concerned with northern environmental and community issues. It includes up-to-date databases on information, educational resources, and links to a host of northern organizations concerned with environmental issues.

Don’t Miss:

  • Databases:
    • Arctic Borderlands Database of Information Sources – Listing of ecological information for the Northern Yukon
    • A Database of Climate Change Information Sources for Northern Canada – Searchable database of information sources related to climate change in northern Canada
  • Focus on Caribouhttp://www.taiga.net/top/caribou.html – Pay special attention to Caribou and Climate: a slide show, and both of the Porcupine Caribou Population Model: Demo Versions – wonderful, interactive graphs.
  • Focus on Climate Changehttp://www.taiga.net/top/climatechange.html – Links to good general information on climate change in the north, and project reports

Created by: Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Society

Scope: Northern and International

Target Grades: 6–12

Relevance: Background information, Educational resources.

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WWF Polar Bear Tracker
http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/arctic/area/species/polarbear/polar_bear/


In a Nutshell:

An excellent polar bear site that allows students to track polar bears as they journey through the Arctic. Plenty of polar bear background info, too.

Don’t Miss:

  • About Polar Bears – Good background information on the characteristics, habitat, and feeding of polar bears
  • Polar Bears at Risk – Detailed description of the current impacts of climate change on polar bears.

Created by: World Wildlife Fund

Scope: Northern territories

Target Grades: 6–12

Relevance: Good information for students and teachers on the impacts of climate change on polar bears.

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Yukon Department of Environment
http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/


In a Nutshell:

A page with links to downloadable PDF backgrounders on topics relating to climate change and the Yukon, plus the Yukon Government Climate Change Action Plan.

Don’t Miss:

  • Downloadable PDF fact sheets:
    • What is Climate Change?
    • Physical Impacts
    • Ecological Impacts
    • Impacts on People
    • Response
  • Yukon Climate Change Action Plan – in PDF format

Created by: Department of Environment, Government of Yukon

Scope: Yukon

Target Grades: 8–12

Relevance: Background information for student research

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Yukon Energy
http://www.yukonenergy.ca/services/renewable/


In a Nutshell:

Good information – with great pictures – on the work Yukon Energy is doing in various forms of renewable energy.

Don’t Miss:

  • Wind Power – With downloadable articles
  • Solar Power – Current info about the portable Solar-Hybrid Unit
  • Geo-Thermal Power – About the fish hatchery’s heat pump
  • Hydro Power – Info on Yukon Energy’s three hydro facilities

Created by: Yukon Energy

Scope: Yukon

Target Grades: 8–12

Relevance: Good background info on current Yukon energy initiatives.

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