Learning goals

We are learning to…

Success criteria

I am able to…

Real or not real?

Explore the following image.

Is it a real seal or a toy seal?

Take a guess and share your reasons with a partner, if possible.

A harp seal isolated on a blank background. It is gray with dark spots along its back. It appears waxy with no visible whiskers.

How do you know?

The image is of a toy harp seal!

A closer look at the harp seal's face and upper body. It appears waxy with no visible whiskers.

Marcel says "Here are a few ways we can tell it is not a real Harp Seal"

  • The background is white, which tells us that the harp seal is not in its usual home. Harp Seals live on ice patches close to water.
  • Harp Seals have fur and skin. This one doesn't look furry.

When we compare the photo of the toy with a real photo of harp seals, what do you notice?

Three harp seals with shiny fur and whiskers lie on the ice, surrounded by snow. Their colours vary, with black patterns on their backs.

Marcel says: I think the patterns and colours on the toy harp seal don't match the one of the real harp seals. The real harp seal has whiskers, and their fur looks shiny in the light. I also notice that there is snow and ice in this image, which makes me think that the harp seals are in their homes!

Information detectives

It’s important to search for details because information is all around us.

  • Some information is in books or in magazines.
  • Some information is on the internet or on television.
  • Some information is from trusted adults that we know.

Student Tips

Student tips

It’s important to always:

  • think about where we are finding our information
  • think about what we already know to be true
Marcel holding a magnifying glass and saying, "We can be information detectives!"

As you explore new information, ask yourself:

  • Do I understand the information?
  • Can I connect this information to anything that I have read, seen, or heard before?
  • What are some other clues that help me figure out if this is real or not real?

Student Wellness

Student wellness

If you ever need help understanding what you find online, you can always ask a grown-up you trust for some extra help!

Arctic animals

We can read for different reasons. Sometimes, we read for entertainment, to explore stories or to use our imagination. Other times, we might read to learn new information.

You are about to explore some more facts about Arctic animals.

A fact is something that has been proven to be true. These facts are observations made by scientists.

Harp seals

Let’s learn some facts about harp seals!

Two harp seals on an ice patch. The smaller one has fluffy white fur. The larger one has shiny gray fur and dark marks on its back.

Harp seals live on ice patches close to water.

Adult harp seals can dive and stay underwater for 15 minutes before they come back up for air.

They eat fish, lobsters, crabs, and shrimp.

Harp seals have sharp teeth and strong flippers to help them swim.

Young seals have fluffy white fur. When they get older, they grow a dark mark on their back and sides, and their fur turns yellow and/or gray.

Harp seals can live up to 20 years.

Harp seals

Investigate

Harp seals: Real or not real?

Marcel says: Hmm, this picture looks interesting. Let's use what we have learned about Harp Seals to figure out if the picture shows us real facts about Harp Seals or not.

Two harp seals (1 adult and 1 baby) lying on an ice patch on the water. A third harp seal is swimming underwater.

Press Reveal to find out if the picture is real or not real.

Listen to the following audio to find out if the picture is real or not real!

Harp seals: Is it real or not?

Snow buntings

Let’s learn some facts about snow buntings!

A group of small birds called snow buntings. They are eating seeds on the snow-covered ground.

Snow buntings are a type of bird.

They build their nests in between rocks with grass and moss, fur, and feathers.

Their feathers change in the winter to white with some grey and black on their back and tail. This helps snow buntings hide in the snow and ice.

Snow buntings eat seeds and plant buds and insects on the ground.

Snow buntings

Investigate

Snow buntings: Real or not real?

Marcel says: Hmm, this picture looks interesting. Let's use what we have learned about Snow Buntings to figure out if the picture shows us real facts about Snow Buntings or not.

A group of snow buntings swimming underwater using their flippers.

Press Reveal to find out if the picture is real or not real.

Listen to the following audio to find out if the picture is real or not real!

Snow bunting: Is it real or not?

Belugas

Let’s learn some facts about belugas!

Two beluga whales swimming under water. They each have 2 flippers, a bulging forehead, and a short, blunt snout.

Belugas are one of the smallest kinds of whales.

Belugas live together in water and travel in small groups called “pods.”

Belugas speak to each other with clicks, whistles, and clangs. Belugas can also copy sounds that other animals make.

Belugas

Investigate

Belugas: Real or not real?

Marcel says: Hmm, this picture looks interesting. Let's use what we have learned about Belugas to figure out if the picture shows us real facts about Belugas or not.

A pod of belugas perched on a nest atop a cliff. They have wings instead of flippers.

Press Reveal to find out if the picture is real or not real.

Listen to the following audio to find out if the picture is real or not real!

Beluga: Is it real or not?

Word work

Let’s explore some of the new words that we learned from the facts about Arctic animals!

Press the following play buttons to listen closely to each word. If possible, practice saying each word out loud.

Snow bunting

Beluga

Harp seal

Water

Nest

Feathers

Flippers

Clara says: Do any of the words start with the same sound? Share your thoughts with a partner, if possible.

Create a real or not real picture

Choose one of the Arctic animals that we have learned about in the Action section. You may also choose another animal of your choice.

It’s your turn to create a picture that is real or not real!

Student Success

Think!

Before you begin, think about the following questions:

  • Does the animal live in the water or on land?
  • Does the animal live underground or up high?
  • How would you describe the animal's home?
  • What does the animal look like?

Press Reveal to see an example.

Marcel says: I know where belugas live and what they look like. I am going to add details that are funny and not real, so that my partner needs to think and check the facts they know about belugas.
Marcel's picture is of a beluga with wings (no flippers) flying in the air towards a nest atop a cliff. In the nest is another beluga with wings instead of flippers.

Now, decide if you would like to include real details or not real details.

You may use the following template of different Arctic animal homes or create your own using a blank piece of paper.

Is it Real or Not Real?

Press the Activity button to access the Is it Real or Not Real?.

Activity(Opens in a new tab)

Where do they live?

Match the name of each animal to the image of where they live!

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.