Arctic Mystery
Climate change is affecting Polar Regions at a greater rate than other parts of the planet and bringing information about Polar Regions to learners in informal settings is an integral part of increasing polar literacy. Inspired by escape rooms and mystery-themed materials that have increased in popularity over recent years and necessitated by disruptions during the pandemic, the Arctic Mystery engaged youth in small groups by challenging them to work together to make claims based on evidence and reasoning. This CSI-style kit features Arctic ecology, geography, and local connections as well as scientific data, research materials, and field research as content through which youth solve the mystery of a scientist’s disappearance.
This six-session activity can take place in-person, virtually over Zoom, or in an asynchronous setting.
Arctic Mystery kits can be prepared by the Byrd Center and delivered upon request.
Facilitator Guide & Printing Instructions
Details about each of the six sessions and how to facilitate the activity can be found below.
Materials can be downloaded and printed using the instructions provided in the contents.
Sessions
The purpose of Module 0 is to establish small working groups, allow youth to introduce themselves, set group norms, and hone skills needed to complete the remainder of the kit. The materials in this packet include: an introductory letter from the FBI and images and notes from a crime scene. In this module, youth will be asked to use visual and context clues to recreate a timeline of events at the accident scene.
Session 1 introduces the overarching mystery of Perm A. Frost. Youths will receive an envelope containing the session’s materials, including a map of Alaska, Alaska airports, Alaska ecoregions, a plant field guide, Instagram posts, and a letter from the FBI. This session sets the scene, describing how a scientist in the field went missing, and how family and friends aren’t sure about her whereabouts. Using Perm’s Instagram and plant field guide, students should be able to uncover which ecoregion and county Perm is conducting research in. The goal of this session is to become familiarized with the geography and ecology in Alaska.
Session 2 follows a similar format to Session 1; however, this session introduces the “suspects” who may be responsible for Perm’s disappearance. During their group meetings, youths will have to determine which airport Perm flew into, and which animal is not a suspect responsible for Perm’s disappearance. The goal of this session is to become familiarized with Alaska weather, climate, and wildlife. In this session, youths are also asked to “eliminate a suspect,” which means crossing off an animal who may be responsible for Perm’s disappearance. In order to eliminate a suspect during this session, youths will have to pay attention to key details and understand the geographic location difference between the Arctic and Antarctic.
Session 3 takes a deeper dive into the data that Perm collects and studies. The session materials include a map of a city in Alaska, instructions for using a pH meter, a framed data set, animal tracking coordinates, and a letter from the FBI. During their breakout sessions, small groups should focus on the actual location of Perm’s campsite and eliminate a suspect before moving on to river erosion data. The goal of this session is to grapple with legitimate data, become familiar with maps, and exercise basic mask skills to uncover a password.
Session 4 is where youth become acquainted with camping in the Arctic. During this session, youths will look at the ‘crime scene’ where Perm went missing and a few pieces of evidence on the scene, including food eaten, footprints, a fallen weather station, and trace evidence of wildlife, such as fur and scat. During this session, youths are asked to identify which evidence should be sent to a forensic lab for further analysis, as well as determine the time and date Perm went missing, and which suspects are not responsible for her disappearance.
Session 5 is the finale of the mystery. During this finale, youths will be asked to identify the final suspect and determine where Perm is located. In order to identify the suspect, youths will be asked to evaluate the results from the forensic lab (DNA data, hair sample analysis, scat sample analysis) and peruse the field notebook that Perm used during her research. At the end of the finale, each team should have completed the tasks and found Perm.
Perm is rescued and returns home safe and sound. As a thank-you, the following video was recorded.
Youth and facilitators alike have requested time to interact with a polar researcher, to ask questions about the region, learn more about living and working in the Arctic and Antarctic, and see them as human beings. Groups in Ohio may also request a tour of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center. This opportunity is provided in Session 6. Likewise, youth have often elected to explore different topics during the first six sessions on their own and bring their individual talents to solving the mystery. Session 7 allows youth to deploy their talents creatively to display some of the information that they have explored during the program.
Please contact the Byrd Center Outreach Team at bpcrc.outreach@osu.edu or 614-292-6007.