Polar Patterns: Day, Night, and Seasons, the third issue of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears cyberzine, provides content knowledge, lesson plans, and resources about day and night, seasons, and the aurora. Through hands-on investigations of these phenomena and content area reading, students practice identifying cause and effect relationships. The third issue includes compelling images from both the Arctic and Antarctica as well as engaging stories and high-quality content. Some of the issue's highlights are:

Researcher Stories: An article profiles a researcher who overwintered in Antarctica to study the Aurora australis.

Science and Literacy Lessons: This article highlights lessons to study seasonal change and develop literacy skills.

Art integration: This article highlights a variety of art projects that can be used in conjunction with a study of the aurora.

Expository articles for students: The issue has versions for K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. At each grade level, the article is available in three formats: text-only, a printable, foldable book, and an electronic book with audio files. This feature allows students to listen to the article as they read the text on-screen. Related lessons and activities accompany the articles.

Virtual Bookshelf: Selected children’s literature with ideas for classroom use and recommended grade levels. Written by a children’s librarian.

Misconceptions and Formative Assessment probe: In addition to listing common student misconceptions, this article includes a formative assessment probe (pdf file) that can be used to assess student ideas. The probe follows the model used by Page Keeley and others in the three volumes of Uncovering Student Ideas in Science (NSTA Press).

Rubrics: Learn how to create your own rubrics and checklists to assess student progress.

Discrepant Events: Time lapse videos of Arctic and Antarctic sunrise and sunsets are used as discrepant events to promote reflection about seasonal variation in day and night in the polar regions.

Find this and other professional development articles, lesson plans, and more in Issue Three of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears!