The Polar Regions: Antarctic Lessons

Antarctica - Early Explorers

This lesson designed for students in Grades 3-4 provides links to 5 sites along with questions to be answered at each site. Students will have the best luck if they choose the View in Frames button to get started. The reading levels of some of the selected sites may be difficult for some students. Students may need to scroll down to see the timeline content on the first site. Resource contributed by Dale Cockrill, a 3-4 teacher.

World History Era of Revolutions Standard 35: Understands patterns of nationalism, state-building, and social reform in Europe and the Americas from 1830 to 1914
Geography Places and Regions Standard 4: Understands the physical and human characteristics of place
Geography Environment and Society Standard 15: Understands how physical systems affect human systems
Uses of Geography Standard 17: Understands how geography is used to interpret the past

Going to Extremes

This Polar Connections unit, designed for middle school students by NSF, includes the directions for three hands-on activities. Handouts are provided where needed. This site contrasts the Arctic environment with the Antarctic environment and helps the students discover some surprising facts.

Standards: observing, comparing, recording data, interpreting, inferring, communicating

Antarctica: The Frozen Continent

Designed for middle school students, this lesson provides links to 5 sites along with factual and higher-order thinking questions for each of the sites. Illustrates how to use a few sites intensively to teach students quite a bit about a topic. Choose either View button to go to the content of this Track. Contributed by Jaime Rearley.

World History Era of Revolutions Standard 35: Understands patterns of nationalism, state-building, and social reform in Europe and the Americas from 1830 to 1914
Geography Places and Regions Standard 4: Understands the physical and human characteristics of place
Geography Environment and Society Standard 15: Understands how physical systems affect human systems

Classroom Antarctica

Designed for middle school students, this rich set of lessons from our colleagues in Australia will introduce students to Antarctica and some of its rich history. This is a great site for teaching students to use scientific data (see Unit 5, for an example) and teachers will find many useful resources to support the units. Much of it is in PDF format so once you download it you have it forever. This is a must-see!

World History Era of Revolutions Standard 35: Understands patterns of nationalism, state-building, and social reform in Europe and the Americas from 1830 to 1914
Geography Places and Regions Standard 4: Understands the physical and human characteristics of place
Geography Environment and Society Standard 15: Understands how physical systems affect human systems
LifeSciences Standard 6: Understands relationships among organisms and their physical environment
Nature of Science Standard 12: Understands the nature of scientific inquiry

Learning to Take Scientific Notes

Uses an edible sediment core simulation to stimulate the interest of students in grades 4-6 in scientific work occurring on Cape Roberts. Teaches data collection in a very fun way. The unit designed by a fourth grade teacher associated with the Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic program.

Earth and Space Sciences Standard 2: Understands Earth's composition and structure

Expedition through Antarctica

This Internet worksheet consisting of four sites is also designed for middle school students. The questions associated with the sites are primarily factual. Even if the questions are not what you would ask, the sites are great resources. For example, the first site highlights a recent Antarctic exploration by two women. Choose one of the View buttons to see the content of this worksheet. Contributed by Connie Gilbert, a teacher from Louisiana.

ISTE Student Technology Standard 3: Uses technology productivity tools
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

Voyage to Antarctica

This online lesson provides the materials necessary for students to plan and carry out a simulated research trip to Antarctica. There are several hands-on activities associated with this lesson which is provided by Polar Connections (NSF). Use this unit to get your feet wet if you have never tried Project Based Learning. Includes activities suitable for students 8-15.

Standards--observing, comparing, modeling, problem-solving, communicating, recording data

Antarctic Experience

Published by the Tasmanian Dept. of Education, this siteis a visual cornucopia as well as a great learning experience. Packed with great photographs and learning idea. Designed for students in grades 5-9. Click on Login and then look at Student Notes or Teacher Notes. Don't forget to Enter the Circle (this may take a little time to load), to view the photographs, read the journals and see additional learning opportunities.

Standards--observing, comparing, modeling, problem-solving, communicating, recording data

Today's Forecast - Antarctica

Students in grades 3-5 should enjoy this activity which involves graphing the temperature in the Antarctic. Students will also get practice converting data from Fahrenheit to Celsius and from Celsius to Fahrenheit. Unit designed by teacher who was part of the Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic program.

Earth Science Standard 1: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle
Math Standard 4: Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of measurement

It Came From Outer Space

This TEA classroom lesson helps middle school students understand why Antarctica is a great place to locate meteorites. Use the links at the bottom of the lesson to locate the necessary resources. You can contact the teacher who designed this lesson if you have any questions.

Earth Science Standard 3: Understands the composition and structure of the universe and the Earth's place in it

Nature's Deep Freeze

Designed for students 11 years of age and older, the two activities allow the students to model the processes of fossilization and compare the effects of four simulated environments on the preservation of organic materials. Materials are available in most homes and schools, but the fossilization activity can be a little messy.

Standards: observing, comparing, recording data, interpreting, modeling, analyzing, inferring

Polar Opposites

This discovery lesson for elementary students has student explore similarities and differences between the Arctic and Antarctic regions by having the students sort the materials found in a simulated explorer's trunk. Students use provided informational resources to determine how to sort the materials.

Standards: observing, comparing, interpreting, inferring, problem-solving

Lessons About the South Pole

Suggestions for activities relating to insulation, time zones, temperature, and solar energy. These activities are probably most appropriate for grades 3-5.

Geography Environment and Society Standard 15: Understands how physical systems affect human systems
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

Cyber Hunt: Explore Antarctica

A lesson for students in grades 3-4 that takes students to a series of sites where students are to fill in the answers to questions posed by the teacher. A complete and quick scavenger-hunt type lesson with the sites that have the answers already identified. Click on a View button to see the sites and questions.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
Life Sciences Standard 6: Understands relationships between organisms and their physical environment

Live From Antarctica Teacher's Guide

Each of the links entitled Program _, outlines a full lesson plan to help upper elementary or middle school students learn about the topic. There are many hands-on experiments described such as: fossil making (Project 2); making a CO2 Test box (Project 3); and measuring impact of global warming on sea level rise (Project 4). Project 1 provides opportunities to work with maps to better understand the concepts. An excellent resource!

Standards: conducting experiments, mapping, charting, inference, analysis, reflection, communication.

Not Alone On the Ice

Links to hands-on project-based activities for students in grades 5-10 can be found at the bottom of the page. These activities help students recognize the importance of working together in polar environments. These activities will take more than one class period, but are described well enough to help the teacher who has not tried project-based activities before.

Standards: conducting experiments, mapping, charting, inference, analysis, reflection, communication.
Life Sciences Standard 6: Understands relationships between organisms and their physical environment

Caring For Antarctica

The teacher's manual and student modules for the LearnZ Antarctica expedition is designed for high school students. This manual includes all the details and many of the needed student handouts. Students can really learn a lot through the activities outlined, but you will need to review the material and information carefully beforehand to be sure that you have all the materials needed. LearnZ has new expeditions every semester, so you may want to use this interactive site to support learning about other places too.

Standards: conducting experiments, mapping, charting, inference, analysis, reflection, communication.
Life Sciences Standard 6: Understands relationships between organisms and their physical environment