Did you know that Antarctica is home to just two species of plants? At the opposite end of the earth, over a thousand plant species grow on the Arctic tundra. And that’s not counting the many species of algae and lichens that are not classified as plants.

Polar Plants, Issue 12 of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears magazine explores plants and the hardy species that can be found in the polar regions. In this month’s issue, you can:

Learn about the plants, fungi, algae, and lichens of the polar regions and their adaptations for a cold and harsh environment.

Discover high quality lesson plans for integrating literacy and science while teaching plant classification, life cycles, and adaptations.

 Download an informational text about lichens, written especially for students, in text, book, or e-book form.

Learn how to help your elementary students organize research.

Read about a surprise discovery in Antarctica and how it shaped our understanding of the continent’s past climate.

Listen to a podcast featuring Dr. Andy Monaghan, a climate scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Of course, there’s much more to discover. Check out Issue 12 - Polar Plants - today!