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 and Engineering
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-5 Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
Visual and Performing Arts
Visual Arts: Standard C1 - Perceive and analyze artistic work.
D.C1.6-8adv.b Compare and contrast the ways in which context and media influence the ideas, emotions and actions of the viewer.
D.C1.9-12acc.b Evaluate the effectiveness of an image to influence ideas, feelings, and behaviors of various audiences.
Visual Arts: Standard C2 - Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
D.C2.9-12prof Construct interpretations of artwork, supported by relevant and sufficient evidence found both in the work and in various contexts.
Visual Arts: Standard D2 - Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical contexts to deepen understanding.
D.D2.6-8prof Analyze how art reflects changing times, traditions, resources, and cultural uses.
