Do you think the North and South poles are boring, lifeless places that have no impact on your life? Think again.

The planet's northern (Arctic) and southern (Antarctic) polar areas are teeming with plants, animals and even people. Polar bears and penguins aside, these icy regions at opposite ends of the globe are important pieces in Earth's climate system.

An art contest for grades 2-4 challenges U.S. students to pick a polar region, explore it and then draw a picture showing what they learned. This is the 11th annual art contest held by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Arlington, VA. The contest supports national science education standards for grades K-4.

The winning artist will receive a $250 savings bond, and his or her artwork will be printed as the 2006 IGES holiday card. Second- and third-place winners receive a $100 and $50 savings bond, respectively. Artwork will be judged by a panel of artists and IGES staff members. All students who submit an entry will receive a certificate of participation.

This year's theme--Polar Exploration: Going to Extremes! -- relates to the upcoming 2007-2008 International Polar Year (IPY), a coordinated effort by the international science community to learn more about the roles of the polar regions in global processes. IPY will also serve as a mechanism to attract and develop a new generation of scientists and engineers with the versatility to tackle complex global issues.

Contest rules and entry form, fun polar facts, lesson plans and links to national science and geography standards, and a listing of recommended books, movies and Web sites can be found on the Polar Contest Website.