Polar Conservation & Future · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Protecting the poles for the future

Science · Polar Regions · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What is opening up in the Arctic Ocean as sea ice melts?

    • New farmland for crops
    • New shipping routes
    • More permanent ice cover

  2. What is a marine protected area used for in the Southern Ocean?

    • Less fishing, safer wildlife
    • To build new research stations
    • To mine for oil and gas

  3. Indigenous peoples like the Inuit have knowledge about the Arctic that comes from living there for generations.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Why do countries argue over the Arctic Ocean?

    • Melting ice opens oil, gas, and routes
    • The Arctic Ocean is getting smaller every year
    • Countries want to build new research stations only

  5. Besides the Antarctic Treaty, what newer tool helps protect ocean life around Antarctica?

    • New airports built for tourists
    • Opening the coast to more oil drilling
    • Protected areas that limit fishing

  6. Why are indigenous peoples pushing for a bigger voice in Arctic environmental decisions?

    • They want to build new cities in the Arctic
    • The changes hit their homes and traditions
    • They are not affected by climate change

  7. A country wants to fish in the Southern Ocean, but a marine protected area blocks part of its usual route. What does this show about conservation?

    • Conservation can limit countries at a cost
    • Countries always agree happily to give up fishing grounds
    • Marine protected areas have no real effect on fishing

  8. Malik says: "As Arctic ice melts, countries will need to cooperate less, since there's more space for everyone." What is wrong with this idea?

    Ice meltsRoutes openCountries claim
    • Nothing is wrong, ice melting helps everyone equally
    • Ice melting stops all shipping in the Arctic
    • Melting ice grows disputes over shared routes
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_7QeiS95TRC-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Protecting the poles for the future W1-mt_7QeiS95TRC-s1

  1. New shipping routes · As ice retreats, ships can now travel through routes that used to stay frozen all year.
  2. Less fishing, safer wildlife · Marine protected areas limit fishing and hunting so Antarctic animals like penguins and krill stay safe.
  3. True · Their long experience on the land helps them notice environmental changes others might miss.
  4. Melting ice opens oil, gas, and routes · Retreating ice opens access to resources and routes, and several countries claim the same waters.
  5. Protected areas that limit fishing · Marine protected areas add ocean protection on top of the Antarctic Treaty's rules for the land.
  6. The changes hit their homes and traditions · Indigenous communities live with the changes directly, so their input helps guide better decisions.
  7. Conservation can limit countries at a cost · Conservation measures work by placing real limits on activity, which can create tension with economic interests.
  8. Melting ice grows disputes over shared routes · More reachable resources and routes mean more overlapping claims, not less need for cooperation.
Worksheet · LightMySky