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

Northern Calculators – Students input information for immediate feedback

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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A.R.M. Education Center – http://www.arm.gov/docs/education/whoisprof.html


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://www.arm.gov/docs/education/twplessons.html - 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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CANTTEX –Canadian Tundra and Taiga Experiment – http://www.taiga.net/canttex/index.html


In a Nutshell:

A forum for sharing information on methods and results of studies designed to monitor impacts of global climate change on arctic and alpine tundra and taiga ecosystems in Canada.

Don’t Miss:

  • Searchable listing of northern Canadian research projects

Created by: The EMAN-North network, coordinated by Environment Canada staff in Whitehorse and Yellowknife

Scope: Northern and National

Target Grades: 6–12

Relevance: Useful for teachers identifying references for further research. Provides contact information for specific monitoring projects and an introduction to the northern environmental monitoring network approach.

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C-CIARN – Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network – http://www.taiga.net/c-ciarn-north/index.html


In a Nutshell:

A site designed to link researchers and stakeholders concerned with climate change in Canada’s three northern territories: Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon.

Don’t Miss:

  • Contacts – List of C-CIARN climate change resource contacts in NWT, Nunavut, Yukon and Ottawa
  • Databases – Links to three northern climate change databases
  • Links – Climate-Related Sites
  • Nunavut – Includes link to an Inuktitut glossary of climate change terms, & a community project to collect observations of changes in sea ice off the southeastern shores of Baffin Island

Created by: C-CIARN, a partnership between Natural Resources Canada, the Yukon Government, Yukon College, Aurora Research Institute and Nunavut Research Institute

Scope: Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon

Target Grades: 9–12

Relevance: Background info, Useful links to identify research projects in specific areas related to climate change.

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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.
  • Teacher’s Guide
    http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/posters/teachers/
    guide_e.asp
    This guide (also downloadable) contains 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/people/staff/dunton/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 – Yukon – http://www.globecanada.net/


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 (under construction Dec 10, 2003).

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 Conference (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 Welcome, then Activities, then Climate Change.

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NCE Matrix Maker – http://yukon.taiga.net/matrix/


In a Nutshell:

An interactive database that displays the current status of our knowledge about climate change impacts in the North.

Don’t Miss:

  • The 3 topic areas – Community, Ecosystem, Economic – Click on any topic under one of these headings, then click on the Matrix Maker, and you’ll have a graph containing the information currently known on this topic.

Created by: Northern Climate Exchange

Scope: Northern

Target Grades: 9–12

Relevance: Excellent data on climate change impacts in the north.

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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 Hot – current issues and events in climate change - news programs, reports, etc.
  • Are You Doing Your Bit? – links on emission reduction - don’t miss the slide show
  • Bulletin Board – Check out the up-to-date media articles
  • Kyoto InfoCentre – Information on the Accord, and a chance for students to record their opinions and comments
  • Knowledge Site – A great northern site, including projects, database, contacts

Click on the Right Hand Homepage Buttons for:

  • Circumpolar North Climate Change Summit – proceedings from the 2001 summit on climate change held in Whitehorse
  • Whitehorse Declaration on Northern Climate Change
  • Northern Climate Change Schools Program (see below)
  • NCE Matrix Maker – interactive grid detailing northern climate change information (see separate write-up)
  • 100 Years of Climate Change – a Quicktime video of projected temperature changes globally

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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NWT Climate Change Centre – http://www.nwtclimatechangecentre.ca/default.htm


In a Nutshell:

A good “check-in” website for NWT folks, including current programs and events, links and ideas.

Don’t Miss:

  • Library – A listing of climate change-related videos, games, books and teaching resources available for loan
  • Programs – What’s going on in NWT? A listing of programs and events relating to climate change.

Created by: Northwest Territories Climate Change Centre

Scope: NWT

Target Grades: K–12

Relevance: A good source of information and resources for NWT teachers.

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Polar Bear Tracker – http://www.panda.org/polarbears/


In a Nutshell:

An excellent polar bear site that allows students to track Lena and Yana, two 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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Sedna IV – http://www.onf.ca/sedna/index_en.html


In a Nutshell:

The Sedna IV, a three-masted sailboat filled with scientists and filmmakers, has just completed their Arctic voyage, examining the impacts of climate change. This site contains great pictures, video clips, articles and teaching suggestions.

Don’t Miss:

  • Special bulletins for teachers – Especially “Wildlife” and “Global Issues.” These are linked to photos, video clips and articles.
  • Virtual Missions – A set of projects targeted at different grade levels
  • Photos Gallery – On topics like wildlife, climatology, peoples of the North, global issues. Click on the photo to get related information.

Created by: National Film Board of Canada

Scope: The Arctic

Target Grades: 1–12

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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 Arctic Program – http://www.wwf.ca/AboutWWF/WhatWeDo/
ConservationPrograms/Conservation.asp


In a Nutshell:

Information on the World Wildlife Fund Arctic programs, many relating to climate change. Also, lots of information on polar bears.

Don’t Miss:

  • Climate Change – Click on the button at the left to read more about Climate Change issues.
  • Polar Bear Central - Click on icon at bottom left for lots of interesting polar bear info.

Created by: World Wildlife Fund

Scope: Arctic

Target Grades: 6–12

Relevance: Good background info on current WWF Arctic programs.

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Yukon Department of Environment – http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/epa/climate.shtml


In a Nutshell:

A page with links to downloadable PDF backgrounders on topics relating to climate change and the Yukon, plus a paper on the initiatives currently underway.

Don’t Miss:

  • Downloadable PDF backgrounders:
    • Climate Change: A Primer
    • Climate Change in the Yukon
    • Reducing Home Energy Use
    • Transportation and Greenhouse Gases
    • Yukon Climate Change Research
  • Yukon Climate Change Initiatives – Also 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 Power – http://www.yec.yk.ca/


In a Nutshell:

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

Don’t Miss:

  • Under the Environment Button (on the top):
    • Wind Power – Contains a list of downloadable articles
    • Solar Power – Current info about the portable Solar-Hybrid Unit
    • Green Power – Material on Yukon’s Green Initiative

Created by: Yukon Power

Scope: Yukon

Target Grades: 8–12

Relevance: Good background info on current Yukon energy initiatives.

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