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The Big Thaw

Secondary

Description

The Arctic has become the canary in the coal mine as an indicator of the impact of climate change. Some reports suggest that the North Pole is melting faster than ever; that the Northwest Passage will soon be an international shipping lane; and that change in the Arctic is happening at warp speed. In The Big Thaw, the Water Brothers visit the Arctic to get the facts and find answers.

General Assessment

What skills does this resource explicitly teach?

The video provides an opportunity for students to enhance those skills related to critical viewing of media - identification of main idea(s), of supporting evidence, effectiveness of visual images and production values.

Strengths

The Arctic is seen as the front line of climate change and thus serves as both a lab and classroom for investigating the rate of climate change and the potential impacts. The video uses an effective combination of visual and narrative to introduce students to this unique bio-region and what the changes there tell us about climate change.

A number of related videos in the Water Brothers series allow for further student investigation of related issues.

Recommendation of how and where to use it

The Big Thaw is a useful addition to those resources that help students investigate climate change. It should be used after the students have studied the causes of climate change and may serve to introduce students to the potential effects of climate change or as a case study of the impact of climate change in a specific bio-region. It may also be used in combination with other videos in the Water Brothers series to support units of study dealing with water in general, marine systems or oceanography.

The Big Thaw also may be used in certain units dealing with Aboriginal Studies with a focus on challenges faced by First Nations or Traditional Indigenous Knowledge.

A Teacher's Guide is available to support the teaching of The Big Thaw. Other relevant teaching activities in the series include, Glacial Retreat, Sea Ice and Ocean Currents.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • Alberta
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    • Grade 10
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      • Indigenous Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Aboriginal Studies 10: Origin and Settlement Patterns
  • British Columbia
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    • Grade 11
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Science 11: The transfer of energy through the atmosphere creates weather and is affected by climate change
        • Earth Science 11:The distribution of water has a major influence on weather and climate.
        • Science for Citizenship 11: Scientific understanding enables humans to respond and adapt to changes locally and globally
    • Grade 12
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      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • English First Peoples 12: Self-representation through authentic First Peoples text is a means to foster justice
        • English First Peoples 12:First Peoples texts and stories provide insight into key aspects of Canada’s past, present, and future
      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 12: Human activities cause changes in the global climate system
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Specialized Science 12: Climate change impacts biodiversity and ecosystem health
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • B.C. First Peoples: The identities, worldviews, and languages of B.C. First Peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land
        • Contemporary Indigenous Studies: The identities, worldviews, and languages of indigenous peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land.
        • Physical Geography 12: Interactions between human activities and the atmosphere affect local and global weather and climate
  • Manitoba
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    • Grade 11
    • Grade 12
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      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
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        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Specific Aboriginal Culture
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Citizenship and Sustainability: Area of Inquiry: Environment
        • Citizenship and Sustainability:Area of Inquiry: Indigenous Peoples
        • Global Issues
        • Global Issues
  • New Brunswick
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    • Grade 12
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      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Advanced Environmental Science 120:Introduction to the human sphere
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
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    • Grade 12
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      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 3205: The Atmosphere and the Environment
      • Geography
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • World Geography 3200/3202: World Climate Patterns
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems 3209: The Earth Through Time
  • Northwest Territories
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    • Grade 10
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      • Social Studies
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        • Norther Studies 10: Module 3: Northern Economy
    • Grade 11
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      • Science
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        • Experiential Science 20, Marine Systems: Introduction to Oceanography
        • Experiential Science 20, Marine Systems: Ocean Ecology
  • Nova Scotia
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    • Grade 10
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      • Geography
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        • Geography 10: Ocean Environment
        • Geography 10:Land Environment
      • Science
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        • Science 10: Sustainability of Ecosystems
    • Grade 11
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      • Geography
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        • Geography of Canada 11: Geography of Risk
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Oceans 11: Coastal Zones
  • Nunavut
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    • Grade 10
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      • Social Studies
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        • Northern Studies: Our World Today
    • Grade 11
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      • Science
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        • Experiential Science 20, Marine Systems: Introduction to Oceanography
        • Experiential Science 20, Marine Systems: Ocean Ecology
  • Ontario
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    • Grade 9
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      • Geography
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Issues in Canadian Geography (Academic): Interactions in the Physical Environment
    • Grade 11
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      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science (Univ/College Prep.) Scientific Solutions to Contemporary Environmental Challenges
        • Environmental Science (Workplace Prep.) Human Impact on the Environment
      • Geography
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        • Forces of Nature: Physical Processes and Disasters (Univ./College Prep.): The Physical Environment: Sustainability and Stewardship
        • Regional Geography (Univ./College Prep.) Dynamics and Change
    • Grade 12
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      • Geography
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Living in a Sustainable World (Workplace Prep.) Ecosystems and Human Activity
        • The Environment & Resource Management (Workplace Preparation): Methods of Geographic Inquiry and Communication
        • World Geography: Urban Patterns & Populations (Univ./College Prep.) Spacial Organizations of Ecumenes
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth and Space Science (Univ. Prep) Recording Earth's History
        • Earth and Space Science(Univ. Prep.) Recording Earth's Geological Processes
  • Prince Edward Island
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    • Grade 9
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interdependence: Atlantic Canada in the Global Community: Environment in the Global Community
    • Grade 10
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      • Geography
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Geography of Canada 421A: Physical Connections: Canada’s Ecozones
    • Grade 11
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      • Geography
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Geography 521A, Global Studies: Physical Patterns of the World
        • Geography 531A (World Geography): Physical Patterns of the World
    • Grade 12
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      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 621A: Environmental Challenges and Successes
      • Geography
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        • Geography 621A Global Issues : Inquiry- What are the issues?
  • Quebec
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    • Grade 9
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      • Social Studies
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        • The Contemporary World: Environment
    • Grade 10
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        • Environmental Science & Technology: The Earth and Space
        • Science & Technology: The Earth and Space
    • Grade 11
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      • Social Studies
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        • Contemporary World: Environment
  • Saskatchewan
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    • Grade 10
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      • Geography
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Geography 10: Climatic Regions and their Effect on Man
    • Grade 11
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      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 20: Atmosphere and Human Health
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 11
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Science 11: The transfer of energy through the atmosphere creates weather and is affected by climate change
        • Earth Science 11:The distribution of water has a major influence on weather and climate.
        • Science for Citizenship 11: Scientific understanding enables humans to respond and adapt to changes locally and globally
    • Grade 12
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • English First Peoples 12: Self-representation through authentic First Peoples text is a means to foster justice
        • English First Peoples 12:First Peoples texts and stories provide insight into key aspects of Canada’s past, present, and future
      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 12: Human activities cause changes in the global climate system
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Specialized Science 12: Climate change impacts biodiversity and ecosystem health
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • B.C. First Peoples: The identities, worldviews, and languages of B.C. First Peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land
        • Contemporary Indigenous Studies: The identities, worldviews, and languages of indigenous peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land.
        • Physical Geography 12: Interactions between human activities and the atmosphere affect local and global weather and climate

Themes Addressed

Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)

  • Climate Change

Ecosystems (1)

  • Bioregionalism

Water (1)

  • Marine Environments