Antarctica and
The Arctic

Thematic Unit Studies are a great way of using a particular topic of interest to encourage learning in multiple subject areas.

These are integrated into the exploration as a whole, so as to provide children with an understanding of the material in a relevant, "real life" way, with both depth and breadth.

ANTARCTICA AND THE ARCTIC

Following are some ideas for developing a thematic unit study around the icy top and bottom of our globe... depending on where you live you may have differing opinions on which is which. :)

Create a map of each area.

Compare sizes and shape.
What percentage of each is always ice?

What percentage is sometimes visible land?

What countries control these areas?

How much area does each control?

Make pie graphs to show this.

Draw or make the flags for each of these countries and stick on your maps.

Who lives in each area?

How many?

Why do they live there and what do they generally do for a living?

Do they remain there, or only come for a certain length of time?

What countries do they originate from?

How different, or similar, is this between Antarctica and the Arctic?

Where do they live?

What type of dwellings?

What transport do/did they use? Why?

What do they wear?

What do they eat?

What do they d o for entertainment?

Who originally lived in or used each area?

What was life like for those people?

Create a model of a typical settlement, either past or present, in each area.

Research a major industry, either past or present, in each area.

What kind of wildlife and vegetation does each have?

What are the similarities?

What are the differences?

Are environmental problems affecting the wildlife and vegetation?

How? What could be done?

Try to see some of these creatures first hand, if your zoo or other wildlife sanctuary has them.

If they don't, why might this be?

If they do, what special considerations must they employ?

Choose an animal in each area to study in more depth, covering diet, life cycle and its special traits which enable it to survive in this hostile environment.

What is similar and different in each of your animals, from the two different areas?

What can you find out about weather conditions in each area?

Temperature ranges?

What's special about days and nights throughout the year?

Find out about the Aurora Australis and the Aurora Borealis. How are they caused?

What links them?

Make a computer presentation about them, using a program such as PowerPoint.

Research global warming and its effect on these areas. What can be done to stop this?

Do some experiments with ice, such as:

• Which freezes faster- fresh or salt water?
• What material can be used to best insulate an ice cube?
  
• How can you speed up melting, just by using colour?

Make ice cream!