Polar Bear Math: Learning About Fractions from Klondike and Snow

Animal Math

by Ann Whitehead Nagda, Cindy Bickel

Early one morning at the Denver Zoo, a polar bear gives birth to two tiny babies, then abandons them. The zoo staff must raise the babies, but there are many things they don't know. What foods are best? How much should the cubs eat? Once they figure out the answers, the cubs quickly become healthy, happy young bears. Young readers follow Klondike and Snow as they grow from fragile newborns to large, lively bears, and along the way they'll learn about fractions.

Genres: Mathematics, Animals, Nonfiction, Childrens, Education, School

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Maddie L Colvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polar Bear Math is an engaging and educational book that makes learning fractions fun and meaningful. Using the real-life story of two polar bear cubs, Klondike and Snow, the authors connect math concepts to science and animal care. The mix of adorable photos, clear explanations, and real-world examples helps students understand fractions in a relatable way. It’s an excellent choice for young readers or classrooms that want to make math come alive.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the story and think most young children will as well. I found some of the fraction explanations confusing — rushing through steps that are important to aid I understanding. Still, a very cute book.

[Jc · Rating 4 out of 5]

For most students, fractions are a real challenge but when put into a fun scenario like this, learning fractions becomes much easier.

[Hannah Schweiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: Two polar bear cubs are born at the Denver Zoo. The mother abandons the cubs, one of which, Klondike, has a cut on his head! The veterinarian technician, Cindy, at the zoo was now tasked with taking care of these cubs who were doubtful to live. The story uses pictures are charts to display how the zoo used fractions to monitor the young cubs’ health and growth.

Themes:
Sickness: Rickets
Vitamin D
Fractions (Including Common Denominators)
Survival
Environmental Awareness
Food (i.e. milk)
The Importance of Playtime and Staying Active
Weight and Measurement

The format of Polar Bear Math is beneficial for the reader because the author keeps the entirety of the math problems on the left side of the book and the story on the right side of the book. Polar Bear Math introduced the fractions to the reader. The author even explains why we use fractions and why they are important.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is for younger children, but the math pages and graphs are a great introduction to fractions, especially equivalent fractions. The parts of a fraction are described with words, diagrams, and pictures, as is the need to make fractions common to add together. Would be best for students working at a lower level.

6th Grade Common Core Standards: The Number System
- 6.NS.1 (divide fractions)

*Available at Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Libraries*

[Paiton Larson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book talks about a polar bear named Ulu, and her two babies. The babies were born very weak, and nursed back to full health. Eventually, the two cubs were taken to SeaWorld. This book relates the steps caretakers took to nurse the cubs back to health to fractions.

While this book is full of cuteness, I wouldn't use it in my classroom to teach fractions. The illustrations that represent fractions are far too confusing for kiddos. I even found them confusing myself!

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to read about how two abandoned polar bears were cared for by humans along with being an introduction to fractions.

I would have introduced the concept that fractions can be written using digits and words. That would explain the concept of using the word or between the fractions and the words.

On page 10, it would have been helpful if the plus sign was larger. It's small and hard to see between the bear illustrations.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful book! Its really two books in one, on one side is the fascinating story of two polar bears Klondike and Snow growing up at the zoo after their mother abandoned them. On the other side is math fractions to go with the story. We read the story thru the first time without the math. THen went back and talked about the math.

[Kristin Waitkus]

I remember being in 3rd or 4th grade when Klondike and Snow were born at the Denver zoo. The kids would love looking at the pictures and learning about fractions and graphing.
Great book to use with 4-6 to teach fractions and graphing.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The problem with teaching fractions is that students are not able to conceptualize what is going on and plus they don't understand how fractions are used in the real world. This is a great book with great photographs and it fits nicely with common core state standards.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute book that works through math problems and teaching fractions using zoo animals and concepts of relative nature to explain fractions
a great resouce for math

[Brittany N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for fractions. It also follows 2 baby bears as their mother abandons them. This book is great for children to follow along with and anticipate what will happen next.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read it for the cute pictures of newborn polar bears, not the math. :)

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would LOVE to baby some polar bear cubs!!!!

Great help for teaching fractions.