Exploring Antarctica and Arctic Features

WALT: Locate Antarctica and the North Pole and describe their features Year 2 Geography - UK National Curriculum

Learning Objectives & Success Criteria

To be able to locate a cold place and describe its features

Quiz Starter - What Do You Know?

What is the difference between hot and cold places? What kind of weather do cold places usually have? Can you name animals that live in cold places? Do you know where the North Pole and South Pole are?

Antarctica

what does Antarctica look like? What can you see? What does the weather look like? What can you tell your partner about the climate there?

Two Amazing Places in Antarctica

{"left":"McMurdo Station - Scientists live and work here\nIt has buildings like a small town\nPeople study penguins and ice","right":"Mount Erebus - A volcano covered in ice\nIt shoots out hot lava and steam\nOne of the coldest volcanoes on Earth"}

Video Activity - Spot the Keywords

Watch the video carefully Listen for these words: cold, snow, ice, penguin, polar bear, iceberg, freezing, Antarctica, North Pole, temperature, climate, housing Tick off each word when you hear it Discuss what you learned with your partner

Where Are the Polar Regions?

Physical vs Human Features

{"left":"Physical Features (Natural)\nMountains and icebergs\nSnow and ice everywhere\nFreezing temperatures\nWild animals like penguins and seals","right":"Human Features (Made by People)\nWarm clothing and special boots\nResearch stations and buildings\nSnowmobiles and sleds for transport\nHeated houses designed for cold weather"}

Amazing Antarctic Animals

Emperor penguins huddle together to stay warm Leopard seals are excellent swimmers and hunters Whales visit Antarctic waters to feed Arctic terns fly all the way from the Arctic! These animals have special adaptations for the cold

Arctic Animals and Adaptations

Polar bears have thick fur and fat to keep warm Arctic foxes change color with the seasons Walruses use their tusks to pull themselves onto ice Snowy owls have feathered feet for warmth All these animals are perfectly suited to cold weather

Create Your Polar Fact File

Choose Antarctica OR the Arctic Include: animals, weather, temperature, plants Add: how people dress and travel there Draw pictures and write facts Use the sentence starters provided Make it colorful and interesting!

How People Survive in Polar Regions

Scientists wear many layers of warm clothing Buildings are specially heated and insulated Food must be brought from other places Special vehicles work on ice and snow People work together and help each other