Antarctica: The Farthest Place Close to Home

Part of Curriculum Collections.

Take your students to the world's most extreme environment with this curriculum.

As they investigate this polar continent and its value to scientists worldwide, they will also learn about world climate, day and night cycles, ocean circulation, animal adaptation, and scientists working “in the field.”

Tailor your study to the amount of time you have, or take a few weeks to cover one or more ready-to-teach units. Either way, your students will make real-world connections to biology, geology, physical science, and technology. They'll also master many important science skills, including skills in research (on and off the Web), observation, description, and analysis. 

Topics

Educator Materials The Coldest, Driest, Windiest, Highest Continent These resources introduce Antarctica’s extreme environments, describes the conditions under which researchers live and work, and... Educator Materials Day and Night Cycles Investigate what causes Antarctica’s six-month summers and winters by studying day and cycles across the globe. Educator Materials Why is it Always Cold in Antarctica? These resources help students to analyze the factors that underline Antarctica’s extreme cold conditions. Educator Materials Extreme Winds It's not just Antarctica's temperatures that are so extreme. Winds speeds on the continent often exceed 100 mph each winter. Learn... Educator Materials Types of Maps Mercator, polar, azimuthal, and conic—do you get lost just hearing about the different types of map projections? Get back on track... Educator Materials Exploration How has our ability to map Antarctica changed in the past 100 years? Do a little exploring of your own, and see what we've learned... Educator Materials Navigation & GPS Before satellite imagery, scientists navigated by matching up geologic formations with those shown in aerial photographs—a tough... Article Organisms What does it take to survive in Antarctica? For emperor penguins, the answer is teamwork—they huddle together by the thousands to... Educator Materials Hazards to Humans Imagine sleeping with a snow shovel in your tent so you can dig out in the morning. Or having to stop your supply vehicle from falling...