Polar Presents: Official Activity Guide and Other Free Resources Around the Web

May 2, 2023


Happy Book Birthday to Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth! Get your copy from Amazon Canada or Amazon USA, from Chapters/Indigo, from Barnes & Noble, from Target, or (best of all) from your local independent bookstore!!

Book Cover - Polar Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth by L.E. Carmichael

The best kind of birthday party is the kind where everyone gets presents: I get to see a book I’m incredibly proud of make its way out into the world, and teachers, parents, librarians, and young readers get free resources.

Polar Presentations

First things first! I’m doing a free Polar presentation with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants today at 12:30 Eastern. Head over to their YouTube channel to watch. You can also catch the recording on demand. And remember you can always contact me to book a virtual or in-person author visit – I’ve got lots of STEM and writing programs to choose from.

I’ll be in Toronto on May 7 for a group book launch, and in Kingston for Science Rendezvous on May 13. Check my Public Appearances page for all the details on these and other events.

Activity Guide

Next up, the official Polar Activity Guide, which includes indoor activities and outdoor ideas for both summer and winter. You can download the free PDF from Kids Can Press. If you’re headed to Kids Can Press, snag your copy of The Boreal Forest Teachers’ Guide as well.

Polar-Themed Articles and Websites

Alaska’s Sea Ice Completely Melted Earlier Than Ever Before

Arctic Temperatures Warmest in More Than 10,000 Years

Australian Antarctic Program – Wildlife Photo Galleries

Cool Antarctica

High Stakes in the High North

How Do Emperor Penguin Dads Stop Their Eggs from Freezing?

Latest Sea Ice Conditions in Canada

Narwhal FAQ

National Snow and Ice Data Center

Peeking into the Underwater World of Leopard Seals

St. Lawrence Shark Observatory – info on Greenland sharks and other species

Twilight, Dawn, and Dusk – helpful for understanding light conditions in the polar regions!

Woolly Bears in the Mountains

Understanding Climate: Antarctic Sea Ice Extent

Lesson Plans, Activities, and Environmental Activism

Canadian Geographic Educator Resources – Climate Change and Environment

Center for Biological Diversity

Explore: Antarctica

Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants – Livestreamed and recorded presentations by polar experts (and many others!)

Just for Kids: What’s Climate Change? And What Can I Do?

Million Tree Project – an initiative of Canada’s Science Rendezvous

NASA Climate Kids – What Is Climate Change?

NASA Climate Kids – What We Can Do to Help

Polar Bears International: Take Action

Project Drawdown – The World’s Leading Resource for Climate Solutions

Save Our Polar Habitats!

Trash Hero Kids

Science Books for Adults

For teenagers that want to learn more, or for adults who want more knowledge to help support their children’s learning – here are some of the adult-level books I consulted while researching Polar. Check your local library for borrowing options.

Antarctica: Global Science from a Frozen Continent (2013)  (Walton WH Ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology (available by subscription online).

Crawford RMM (2013) Tundra-Taiga Biology: Human, Plant, and Animal Survival in the Arctic. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Heinrich B (2006) Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds. New York: Harper Perennial.

Pyenson N (2018) Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth’s Most Awesome Creatures. New York: Viking.

Wadhams P (2016) A Farewell to Ice: A Report from the Arctic. New York: Allen Lane.

Watson P (2017) Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Last Franklin Expedition. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart.


Thank you for helping me celebrate the release of Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth, my 23rd STEM book for young readers! Want to help Polar reach more readers? Thank you! Here are some ways you can spread the word:

  • As your school or public library to add Polar to their collection
  • Tell your friends about the book
  • Tell followers on social media
  • Write a book review on Amazon, Goodreads, or your very own website

Don’t forget to check my Public Appearances page for Polar virtual events and live events happening near you! Are you a teacher or librarian? I’m available for author visits in May and June – contact me to secure your spot.  



1 Comment on ‘Polar Presents: Official Activity Guide and Other Free Resources Around the Web’


Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *