This watercolor painting by scientist and artist Jill Pelto uses Arctic sea ice data to illustrate the effects of its critical decline.
This painting helps students understand how arctic foxes are struggling to cope with habitat degradation due to the rapid warming in the Arctic.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The resource transforms scientific data into meaningful artwork that students can explore.
This painting connects to various important concepts: animal migration, extinction, animal adaptation, group behavior, biodiversity loss, and Arctic ecosystem decline.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with line graphs.
Differentiation
In science and math classes, students could analyze and interpret the scientific data shown in this picture.
This image could be used as an exit ticket. The teacher could show it on the screen and ask students what emotions the watercolor evokes in them after learning about a relevant topic.
Art classes could use this as an example of line art or graphic symbolism.
This resource displays the influence of extreme temperatures on the Arctic Sea, creating changes in the species' habitat and making response difficult. Although data needs to be updated, this resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
6.ESS3.5 Ask clarifying questions based on evidence about the factors that have caused climate change over the past century.
Arts
Visual Arts: Standard 7 - Perceive and analyze artistic work.
VA.7.RE1.8 3. Compare and contrast different media and contexts in which viewers encounter images that influence ideas, emotions, and actions.
Visual Arts: Standard 8 - Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
VA.8.RE2.HS1 2. Orally or in writing interpret an artwork or collection of works, supported by relevant and sufficient evidence found in the work and its various contexts.
Visual Arts: Standard 11 - Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
VA.11.CO2.6 1. Analyze how art is used to inform, shape, and change beliefs, values, and behaviors of an individual and society with consideration to cultural influences and global contexts.
