Post-reading Activities

Activities

Ashley's Next Move
Rumor has it that Ashley’s adventures will continue in a sequel to On Thin Ice. In the meantime, it’s up to you to figure out what she’ll do next. Think about Ashley’s amazing adventure of self-discovery, her new powers, and her feelings at the end of the book. Then roll up your sleeves and write the next chapter of her life story!

On Thin Ice Who's Who
Make a list of all the characters that are somehow related to Ashley – even ones we never met (like her Irish grandfather). Now draw a family tree connecting them all together. List all you can about them or make something up about their physical characteristics or personality that may have influenced the girl we know and love as Ashley.

Sketching Your Favorite Character
Now that you have read the whole story, choose your favourite character and write a character sketch about him or her. This could include either a human or animal character. Use the following headings to help organize your thoughts:

Character Name (if it has one)
Appearance
General Attitudes (e.g. timid, bold, curious)
Likes & Dislikes
Response to Conflict
Other personality traits or important details that you find interesting
Why you chose this character
Conclude by describing how your chosen character changed by the end of the story (e.g. what he or she learned, gained)
Draw a portrait of your character

Mapping the Story
Create a map showing major events and places mentioned in the story. You may choose to focus on the community of Nanurtalik or zoom out for a larger regional scope. Be sure to include events associated with the bear that is featured in the story. For some sites, directional clues and distances are given. Feel free to fill in any gaps with your imagination (including drawing icons). Include a north arrow and scale.

Climate Change Action Plan
As a class, summarize what you have learned about Arctic climate change by reading this book and working through this Guide. On a large chart, list the main impacts of climate change under various headings such as Land, Permafrost, Sea, Ice, Community, etc. and, of course, Polar Bears. Reflect on what the Inuit can and can’t control and star those items on the list that you believe are the highest priority for action. Using this priority list, develop a climate change action plan for the people of Nanurtalik. In this business, actions are often divided into two main groups:

Actions that help prevent further climate change.
Actions that help people adapt to the likely impacts of climate change.

See “What now?” on the Sila–Clue in to Climate Change website for some action plan ideas. Go back to the list and check off all of the climate change impacts on this list that affect you wherever you may live. Make a similar action plan for yourself, your class or community.

Environmental Audit
In this activity students will survey adult community members regarding their favourite place from their childhood. Have the student collect information such as:

Why was it special to them?
Share a story about the place?
Has the place changed? How has it changed?
Does this place still have the same meaning for you?

This activity will allow the students to see how the environment changes due to a variety of reasons overtime. The students can present a report to the class. The students can then draw parallels to the novel regarding how places that Ashley visits such as the Spit or Anirniq Hill have changed.

R.A.F.T
R.A.F.T stands for Role, Audience, Format, and Topic (or Time).

One-word Summaries
A brainstorming activity.

Review of climate change
Continue exploring the issue of climate change!

Book review
Have the students write a book review for On Thin Ice.