Linear Trends in Sea Ice Data
Provided by: Polar Bears International|Published on: March 24, 2026|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Mathematics
Authors: Dr. Jody Reimer, Linda Zhao
Location: Polar Regions
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this lesson, students will interpret trend lines to determine if sea ice loss is due more to chance or factors like climate change.
- Students will observe data, generate a best-fit line, and interpret the significance of the data.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This lesson includes an engaging area graph that helps students see the ice physically change throughout time.
- This is a quick lesson that should fit in one class period, depending on students' familiarity with the subject matter.
Prerequisites
- Teachers should note that pages 5-8 are an answer key.
- Students may benefit from having this region presented on a world map.
- Students may also need some more information about climate change to understand the connection.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can follow this lesson with this one to connect sea ice loss with global climate change.
- Before sharing their best-fit line with the class, students can check with a partner to see if their lines are similar.
- Some students may benefit from having a coin near them or having a teacher demonstrate the coin flip scenario.
In this lesson, students learn about probability and trends through looking at sea ice data. The worksheet does attribute sea ice loss to climate change, but students may need clarification or more information depending on their familiarity with climate change. The answer sheet includes suggested resources. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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