Polar Bear

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

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/polar-bear

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 heavy is Polar Bear?350-700 kg (772-1,543 lbs)
2. What is the scientific name?Ursus maritimus
3. What is the taxonomic divergence?Estimated to have diverged from brown bears approximately 150,000 years ago
4. What makes polar bears look white?Polar bears have special fur that looks white. Their guard hairs are hollow and transparent, and they scatter light, so they blend in with snow and ice. This helps them hide from seals when they hunt.
5. How do polar bears stay warm in the cold Arctic?Polar bears stay warm with thick fur and a big layer of fat under their skin. Their fur keeps heat in, and the fat can be up to 11 cm thick. Their black skin also absorbs sunlight to help keep them warm.

Anthropogenic: Originating from human activity, especially environmental pollution.
Subcutaneous Fat: A layer of fat located directly beneath the skin, providing insulation and energy storage.
Altricial: Describing young animals that are born in an undeveloped state and require significant parental care.
Trophic Dynamics: The study of the feeding and energy transfer relationships within an ecological community.