Arctic

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/arctic

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Arctic?Approximately 14 million square kilometers
2. What is the scientific name of polar bear?Ursus maritimus
3. What is the Arctic and where is it located?The Arctic is the region north of the Arctic Circle, including the Arctic Ocean and parts of eight countries. It is a huge icy playground at the top of the world.
4. Why does the Arctic have so much ice and how does it change?The Arctic has a polar climate with very cold winters and short summers, which keeps sea ice and frozen ground. In recent decades, warming has melted much of the ice, making it thinner and less widespread.

Arctic Circle: An imaginary line of latitude marking the boundary of the Arctic region, north of which the sun remains above or below the horizon for at least one full day annually.
Permafrost: Ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years, a defining characteristic of Arctic terrestrial landscapes and a critical factor in infrastructure stability.
Tundra: A biome characterized by treeless plains, low-growing vegetation, and a short growing season, typically found in high-latitude or high-altitude regions with cold climates.
Indigenous Peoples: The original inhabitants of a region, possessing distinct cultural identities, languages, and traditional knowledge systems developed over long periods of habitation.