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Global Warming is reducing the amount of pack ice in the Arctic, which polar bears depend on for survival. Scientists predict that American polar bears could face extinction in the next 50 years if urgent actions aren't taken to help them survive.

Directions:

Show children on a map or a globe the North Pole. Explain that the North Pole is always frozen with ice, but because of something called “carbon emissions,” temperatures around the world are getting warmer, which is causing the polar ice cap to melt. Give each person an ice cube to hold in his/her or hands, and let them see what happens when it gets warmer. Explain that as the ice is melting it turns into water. When the ice at the North Pole melts, the water goes into the sea, and it is starting to raise the level of the sea.
 
To demonstrate what happens when the ice melts, have children pretend to be polar bears. Explain that polar bears live on the ice. When they hunt for food (seals), they travel across the ice floes. They swim from ice floe to ice floe. Polar bears are facing a big problem. Because the ice floes are melting, the bears must swim further distances to get from ice floe to another, which is very exhausting. The bears tire out easily before they can find food for themselves and their cubs. Use pages of newspaper or construction paper to represent ice floes. Play some music and have children move around, jumping from one ice floe to another. Stop the music periodically. Each time remove one ice floe— explain that the “ice” is disappearing because the temperature is getting warmer. As you remove the “ice floes,” it will get harder and harder to find somewhere to stand. Players are out if they cannot get on a piece of ice. Explain to children that polar bears are experiencing the same problem.

Extension:

Talk with children that we all can do one simple thing to help save the polar bear. Save energy. Discuss how we can save energy: turning off lights and electronic equipment like TVs, video players, stereos, and computers when you aren't using them; plant trees; and use less hot water. Show an old light bulb to children. Ask if they have these light bulbs at home. Explain to children that we can save a lot of energy if we replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb. Show a new compact fluorescent light bulb. Explain that we all can do our part to help save the polar bear by replacing at least one light bulb.

Recite the following rhyme together:

If you change five light bulbs, five light bulbs did I say?

You will save energy, on a cold winter’s day!

Give me a hand and show our world you care.

Save energy, to save the polar bear!

Let children color the Save the Polar Bear rhyme printout and let them take it home. Hand out the parent letter to each child. Make the light bulb polar bear craft with the collected old light bulbs and hand out the "I Help Save the Polar Bear Awards."

Discuss other activities to help cut down on carbon emissions such as recycling aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic, and cardboard.

For more ideas go to http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/