Second graders at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School recently took part in an engaging polar animal adaptations unit, participating in a series of hands-on stations designed to help them understand how animals survive in extreme environments.

Throughout the unit, students learned about a variety of polar animals including reindeer, polar bears, penguins, walruses and snow leopards. Working in small groups, they rotated through different learning stations, each focused on a specific animal and its unique adaptations.

At one station, students conducted a water repellent experiment to observe how penguins’ feathers stay dry. At another, they submerged their hands into icy water using “blubber gloves” made with vegetable shortening to simulate how animals stay warm in Arctic temperatures. Students also used small cups to model how reindeer forage for food in snowy environments.

In addition, groups created camouflaged backgrounds for snow leopards to demonstrate how animals blend into their surroundings for protection. The interactive lessons allowed students to apply scientific concepts through exploration and experimentation, making learning both meaningful and memorable.