The Hungry Polar Bear

By Jasmin, Owen, and Nate

The Issue: This polar bear is so hungry he's eating from a trash can! The sea ice where he lives is melting and he can't get to his regular food. Human activity such as using fossil fuels leads to warmer air and warmer ocean water, and that causes sea ice to melt. Find out how human action can help fix the problem.

SHOW HIDE TRANSCRIPT

>>HOME OWNER: A polar bear! What are you doing in my trash?

>>POLAR BEAR: I am here because I’m hungry and I’m looking for food!

>>HOME OWNER: Don't you have food in the ocean?

>>POLAR BEAR: No, my food is disappearing because sea ice is melting and my habitat is changing.

>>HOME OWNER: Oh no! Why is your habitat changing?

>>SCIENTIST: Hi, I can help answer that question. I am a scientist who studies climate change. Global warming is destroying habitats all around the world and melting sea ice. This is due to human pollution and burning of fossil fuels.

>>HOME OWNER: How can we help with the issue of climate change?

>>SCIENTIST: We can find alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar energy.

[loud noise]

>>POLAR BEAR: Great, but can I stay with you?

>>HOME OWNER: No, but we can all work together to try to fix this problem of global warming.

[audience cheering]

picture of jasmin, owen and nate with speech bubble that says humans are the only living creature that have the power to help the polar bears!
Jasmin

Jasmin | Age 10

Favorite plant or animal: Panda and polar bear

Favorite book: Scary books

Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate

Favorite thing to do / hobby: Art, crafts

Favorite place or object in the Museum: Clay

What you like most about science: It is fun and it helps you learn things.

Advice to kids who think science is boring: It is not. It is fun and you can do experiments.

Owen

Owen | Age 9

Favorite plant or animal: Immortal jellyfish

Favorite book: Lord of the Rings

Favorite ice cream flavor: Cookies and cream

Favorite thing to do / hobby: Running

Favorite place or object in the Museum: Milstein Hall of Ocean Life

What you like most about science: There are always things that haven't been discovered.

Advice to kids who think science is boring: Come to the American Museum of Natural History!

Nate

Nate | Age 10

Favorite plant or animal: Platypus

Favorite book: New Kid

Favorite ice cream flavor: Vanilla

Favorite thing to do / hobby: Play basketball

Favorite place or object in the Museum: Halls of gems and minerals

What you like most about science: I like learning about animals and their habitats.

Advice to kids who think science is boring: Science teaches you how the world works. Pick something you are curious about and science will have the answer.

Credits

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Image Credits:

wind turbines, Erik Wilde via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; all other images courtesy of AMNH.

Sound Credits
music frankum via freesound.org, CC0; boom, yberkineticfilms__dragon-land via freesound.org, CC BY 3.0; iceberg, jeo via freesound.org, CC BY 3.0; crowd cheer, adam-n via freesound.org, CC0.