Frozen Connections - For Teachers

In this activity, students will be learning about the ecology of and threats to the Arctic marine ecosystem. They will explore relationships between organisms and the environment, better understand the impacts of a warming climate, and learn about Indigenous ways of life in this region. Students should complete this activity with an understanding of the vulnerabilities and responses of Arctic systems. They should also develop new viewpoints that consider Indigenous ways of life.

The majority of learning about Arctic ecology takes place while students play the EcoChains: Arctic Futures game, but the concept map comparison and the reflection and analysis portions of the activity serve to solidify that knowledge and provide students with additional cultural and ecological context.

This activity is recommended for advanced high school students and college students. For younger students, modifications can be made to simplify the concept map and reflection portions of the activity.

A grading rubric is provided below; feel free to align with your point system as you see fit. For some students, the rubric may need to be simplified, but this hopefully helps you get started on building your rubric.

Tips for Classroom Implementation

Time Required

• 1 to 1.5 hours, in one class (with possible homework to complete) or split across two classes

Breakdown

• 20 - 30 minutes to play both game levels and read most cards
• 15 - 20 minutes to fill out the worksheet
• 20+ minutes for reflection

What may be most helpful is for students to play the Beginner game for about 10 minutes, then read over the Step 2 assignment. With those tasks in mind, they can then play the Advanced game, and take notes on what processes add or remove ice in their games, and any other relationships they notice.

Classroom Set up

While this is a great individual exercise, students can also work in pairs or slightly larger groups if preferred. If working in groups, it’s still good for the students to play their own game, if enough computers are available.

For younger students, you may want to shorten the reflection or discuss the map comparison as a class; in this case, you can add a personal reflection question on the worksheet for students to complete.

Grading Rubric

Download grading rubric

Extensions

Students can be tasked with trying to improve the game design, or creating their own version of the game. Assessments can include student reports on additional learning objectives or how their new design or focus promotes additional learning.

Students can also read more on this subject in this companion article.

Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

High School - Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

HS.LS2.1. Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.

HS.LS2.6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.