Arctic Blubber Lab Slides
ARCTIC
BLUBBER LAB
How do polar animals stay warm?
Bundle Up!
When it is super cold outside, what clothes do you wear to stay warm?
Nature's Winter Coat
Embedded media
Watch: 1:10 - 2:12 (All about Blubber!)
Whale vs. Sweater
Why is blubber better than a sweater for a whale?
It is Waterproof!
It is attached to them!
It is VERY thick!
The Blubber Glove
1
Put one hand in a plain bag.
2
Put the other hand in the blubber bag.
3
Dip BOTH into the ice water!
Think: Which hand will stay warmer? Why?
Scientist Check-In
Open your Lab Notebook and show what happened!
Bonus Challenge
What if a polar bear went for a swim? Would cotton or wool keep him warm if they got wet?
Blubber Lab Journal Worksheet
Arctic Blubber Lab
Science Journal
Name:
Date:
My Prediction
I think the hand inside the __________________________________ will feel warmer because
Experiment Diagram
Draw your "Blubber Glove" in the ice water below!
What I Felt
Bare Bag Hand
Blubber Bag Hand
Scientific Conclusion
Why did the blubber stay warm?
The blubber hand stayed warm because
Bonus Challenge: Cotton and Wool
If we put a dry sock in the bag, it stays warm. But what happens if the cotton or wool gets wet? Draw or write your discovery here:
Blubber Lab Teacher Guide
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Arctic Blubber Lab • Grade 2
Duration: 45-50 Min
Lab Preparation & Materials
Material List
- Vegetable Shortening (approx. 1 tub per 4 groups)
- Quart-sized Ziploc bags (2 per station)
- Buckets or bowls of ice water
- Duct tape or packing tape
- Paper towels (for clean up)
The "Blubber Glove" Setup
1. Fill one Ziploc bag halfway with shortening.
2. Turn a second bag inside out and place it inside the first bag.
3. Squish the shortening so it surrounds the inner bag.
4. Fold the tops over and tape them together so no shortening leaks out or touches the student's hand.
Lesson Flow
5m
Warm-up & Video
Use the slides to discuss winter clothing. Watch the video (1:10-2:12). Ask: "How do whales stay warm without sweaters?"
5m
Discussion
Compare blubber to sweaters. Focus on insulation: the blubber isn't "making" heat, it is trapping the whale's own body heat.
20m
The Experiment
Students record their predictions first. Encourage them to describe the temperature of the water (freezing, icy, numbing) vs. the temperature of the blubber glove (warm, room temp, cozy).
10m
Scientific Reflection
Students draw their diagram and write their conclusion. Prompt: "What would happen if the whale lost its blubber?"
Differentiation
Support: Provide sentence starters for the conclusion: "The blubber glove felt ______ because ______."
Enrichment: Challenge students to think about why blubber is under the skin instead of on top like fur.
Key Vocabulary
- Insulation: A material that slows down the movement of heat.
- Blubber: A thick layer of fat that acts as an insulator.
- Adaptation: A special feature that helps an animal survive.
Expected Outcome:
Students should observe that the hand in the blubber glove feels very little of the cold, while the bare hand feels it immediately. The conclusion should state that blubber traps body heat and blocks the cold water.
