Key Stage 1 Weather Experts - NEW LOOK
Cold, Cold, Cold! - NEW LOOK

Find out about the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Learn about the climate and wildlife of each and find similarities and differences between them. Begin to understand what climate change is and how it is affecting these regions of the Earth.

Session 1 Footprints to Antartica

Objectives

Geography

  • To use simple compass directions and directional language.
  • To understand how to use a simple map.
  • To locate different areas on a world.

Enquiry question
What can we find out about the location of the UK and Antarctica?

Outcomes
Children will:

  • Learn how to read and follow a simple map.
  • Recognise and use the points of a compass.
  • Locate the UK and Antarctica on a world map and find the best route between the two.

You Will Also Need

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
A compass
Atlases

Weblinks
You may want to show children a short clip of Antarctica in the plenary such as this one from Nat Geo Kids

Session 2 Antarctica fact-finding

Objectives

Geography

  • To identify the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles.
  • To understand the significance of the equator in relation to climate.
  • To use globes and atlases to name and locate the world’s 7 continents.

Enquiry question
What is it like in Antarctica?

Outcomes
Children will:

  • Locate the North and South Pole on a globe.
  • Understand where the equator is located and how this can affect climate.
  • Collect and present facts about Antarctica.

Session 3 The Arctic

Objectives

Geography

  • To identify the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles.
  • To understand the significance of the equator in relation to climate.
  • To understand differences and similarities between areas of the world.

Enquiry question
What differences are there between the Arctic and the Antarctic?

Outcomes
Children will:

  • Locate the North and South Pole on a globe.
  • Understand where the equator is located and how this can affect climate.
  • Know some differences and similarities between the Arctic and Antarctic.

You Will Also Need

A globe

Weblinks
The Arctic vs the Antarctic video – TED-Ed talk by Camille Seaman but any similar video giving information about the two areas would work here.

Session 4 Climate change

Objectives

Geography

  • To begin to understand what climate change is.
  • To understand that climate change is affecting the polar regions.
  • To find ways of making changes to help limit climate change.

Enquiry question
What can we do in our everyday lives to help limit climate change?

Outcomes
Children will:

  • Understand what climate change is and how this is affecting parts of our world.
  • Understand what we can do to help in our everyday lives.