Last Updated on May 12, 2026 by Masha Eretnova
Bring the frozen north to your kitchen table or classroom with this free Arctic habitat activity for kids! Our Polar Bear Color by Number printable introduces young learners to one of the world’s most extreme environments while making coloring fun, structured, and educational.
What’s on the Page?
This striking scene features a sturdy polar bear walking across ice floes, surrounded by jagged snowy mountains and icy Arctic water. The color palette is beautifully frosty — white, tan, grey, blue, light blue, and dark grey — perfectly capturing the look of the frozen wilderness. The key uses 6 colors.
What Supplies Do You Need?
- A home or classroom printer
- White paper or cardstock
- Crayons, including white, light blue, grey, dark grey, tan, and blue
Tip: White crayon shows up best on cardstock rather than plain printer paper. Markers also make a better choice as they can completely cover up the number. But you are also free to leave it empty!
How to Use This Arctic Habitat Activity
Step 1: Download and print. Sign up to get the free PDF delivered to your inbox instantly.
Step 2: Set up your colors. The cool Arctic palette is a great opportunity to talk about light vs. dark shades — light blue vs. dark grey, white vs. tan.
Step 3: Color by number! Fill in the icy scene number by number and watch the Arctic landscape emerge.
Step 4: Talk about the habitat. Ask: “Why do polar bears have white fur?” or “What do you think it feels like to live somewhere that cold?” Great for sparking curiosity and critical thinking.
And you are done!
What Kids Learn
The Arctic is a fascinating habitat that captures kids’ imaginations.
Through this activity, children learn that polar bears are specially adapted to freezing temperatures, that the Arctic is covered in ice and snow, and that very few animals are tough enough to call it home.
They also explore cool/warm color contrasts and practice number-to-color matching, building foundational math and art skills simultaneously.
Want More Habitat Printables?
This polar bear page is one of seven in our free Habitats Color by Number Bundle, which takes kids on a journey from the icy Arctic to the scorching desert, the ocean depths, the African savanna, the jungle rainforest, the wide grasslands, and the friendly farm. It’s the perfect companion for any habitats unit.
Masha Eretnova, born in 1991, is a Chiang Mai-based certified teacher, artist, and blogger with 20+ years of personal painting journey.
She started painting and drawing very early and is now an international abstract artist and educator passionate about acrylic painting, gouache, and crafts.
Her works are part of international exhibitions and contests, including ArtlyMix (Brazil), Al-Tiba 9 (Spain), Exhibizone (Canada), Italy, and many more.
Besides her artistic pursuits, Masha holds a post-grad diploma in Teaching Film Photography and 2 music school diplomas: piano and opera singing.