Age range: 5-8

spca.bc.ca/learn-at-home

Grades:

3-5

Grades:

K - 2

Now place one hand in the other plasticbaggie. Now place your bagged hand insidethe shortening filled bag.

Make sure to move the shortening around soit covers your bagged hand completely.Optional: Get some help to seal the tops withduct tape so water can’t get into the bags!

Are polar bears covered in shortening? Definitely not, but they do have a layer of fat calledblubber that works together with a polar bear's thick fur to keep them warm in icy seas!

Polar Bear Blubber ExperimentMaterials: Large bowl, ice cubes, cold water, shortening, spoon, 2 plastic baggies, duct tape (optional)

Fill the bowl with water and ice cubes

Place your hand briefly in the water (nolonger than 20 seconds!). How does it feel?

Time to get a little messy! Add 3-4 bigspoonfuls of shortening to one of the plasticbaggies

How do warm-blooded mammals like polar bears survivein cold water? Do this experiment to find out.

Put plastic bag and shortening coveredbagged hands into the ice water. What doyou notice? Does the water feel less cold ornot? Why do you think that is?

Thinking QuestionIf our planet is getting warmer because of climate change do you

think this will effect polar bears? Will their life get easier or harder?How come?

Polar Bear FactsPolar bear blubber can be upto 11.5 cm thick! While itkeeps polar bears warm, italso helps them float!Polar bears have 2 types offur

-One is long, oily, hollowhairs that help keep water awayand trap heat -The other is short,insulating hairs that keep heatclose to the body

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