WHY IS IT ALWAYS COLD IN ANTARCTICA?

Take a day, a week, or a whole month to analyze the factors that underline Antarctica’s extreme cold conditions.

• If you want teacher strategies, assessment, and a schedule for the unit, start with Curriculum Materials. Then download all the activities (with handouts) and readings.
• If you want stand-alone, hands-on, or research on the Web activities and don't need teacher strategies to go with them, go directly to Activities.
• If you want accessible content readings that will help your students connect to Antarctica’s extreme temperatures, go straight to Articles. You'll find interviews with real scientists as well as content readings written by or about Antarctic researchers.

		Why Is It Always Cold in Antarctica? Curriculum Materials for grades 7 through 10 What makes this southernmost continent such an icebox? And how can Antarctica, which is so far away from North America, play a role in our changing weather? The answers might surprise you.
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		Antarctic Weather Reports Evidence and Analysis for grades 6 through 12 The weather station names paint quite a picture of Antarctica—Penguin Point, Ski-Hi, and Windless Bight. Which one would you guess had the lowest temperature? And what month was it recorded in?
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		Research on the Web: Temperatures Across the Globe Activity for grades 6 through 12 What does latitude have to do with the weather? Quite a bit! Chart annual weather patterns in the U.S. and Antarctica to discover the link between location and weather patterns.
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		What's the Angle? Activity for grades 6 through 12 Why is there such a dramatic temperature change between the equator and the South Pole? Explore all the angles of sunlight with a few thermometers and a heat lamp.
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		Amazing Albedo Activity for grades 6 through 12 There's a good reason why your summer attire is lighter and brighter than your winter wardrobe. This easy experiment illustrates the power of albedo in black and white.
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		Excerpt: The Last March by Robert Falcon Scott Article for grades 6 through 12 In November 1911, Robert Falcon Scott set out for the South Pole, hoping to be first. After the disappointment of coming in second, Scott tried to return to his ship. Read excerpts from his diary.
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		Let's Talk with Martin Jeffries about Sea Ice and Climate in Antarctica Article for grades 6 through 12 At the poles, it's possible to study sea ice that's 3,000 years old. Find out what scientists learn by cutting up ice cores and seeing the ice crystals' many different textures and colors.
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		Let's Talk with David Bromwich about Meteorology in the Poles Article for grades 6 through 12 It takes only about a month for any change in Antarctica's weather to be felt in North America—pretty remarkable when you consider that Antarctica is 12,874 kilometers (8,000 miles) away.
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		Letter from Stephanie: Temperature & Albedo Article for grades 6 through 12 Even during the summer months, the temperatures on Antarctica's coast range around freezing. Inland, it's even chillier. Discover the three reasons why this continent is the coldest place on Earth.
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