Antarctica Lesson Collection
18 resourcesDive into the wonders of Antarctica with this multi-grade lesson collection! Tailored for K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, each unit includes engaging activities, thought-provoking discussions, and hands-on projects to uncover the mysteries of the frozen continent. Enhance your teaching with stunning BBC video clips showcasing Antarctic wildlife, research stations, and breathtaking icy landscapes. Printable resources like animal fact sheets, scientist journal templates, and conservation challenges bring the learning to life for your students. Perfect for science, geography, and environmental lessons!
Lesson Units
Video Clips
In The Go Jetters Discover the Magic of Antarctica!, Ubercorn and friends travel to Antarctica, the coldest and windiest place on Earth. In this frozen land, you'll discover huge ice rivers called glaciers, and even hear the ice creak as it moves! Learn all about the South Pole, where penguins live and play, and explore the world’s biggest glacier, the Lambert Glacier. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes as they travel the globe visiting the world’s most famous landmarks with their friend and mentor, Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In Strange Sea Creatures Thrive Under the Ice, narrator Sir David Attenborough takes us below the ice to see how life has diversified. Strange creatures, including nudibranchs, thrive there. Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites that possess both male and female reproductive organs making mating a matter of finding any other nudibranch. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In The Sophisticated Feeding Technique of Humpback Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the Southern Ocean and the humpback whales that feed there. When Antarctica broke off from South America, it created swirling currents that sweep up nutrients from the bottom of the ocean, making it one of the richest waters on earth. In the summer, humpback whales come there to feast on shoals of krill, blowing curtains of bubbles and spiraling inwards to capture the swarm. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Weddell Seal Pups: Surviving Antarctica, narrator Sir David Attenborough reveals the challenges newborn seal pups face in one of the harshest environments on Earth. From enduring subzero temperatures and blizzards to entering the icy water for the first time, every decision impacts their survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In King Penguins: A Crowded Colony, explore the remarkable life of the king penguins on South Georgia Island. Amid half a million birds, chicks must stay put to be found by their returning parents who rely on unique calls to reunite. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In The Go Jetters Discover the Magic of Antarctica!, Ubercorn and friends travel to Antarctica, the coldest and windiest place on Earth. In this frozen land, you'll discover huge ice rivers called glaciers, and even hear the ice creak as it moves! Learn all about the South Pole, where penguins live and play, and explore the world’s biggest glacier, the Lambert Glacier. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes as they travel the globe visiting the world’s most famous landmarks with their friend and mentor, Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In Strange Sea Creatures Thrive Under the Ice, narrator Sir David Attenborough takes us below the ice to see how life has diversified. Strange creatures, including nudibranchs, thrive there. Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites that possess both male and female reproductive organs making mating a matter of finding any other nudibranch. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In The Sophisticated Feeding Technique of Humpback Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the Southern Ocean and the humpback whales that feed there. When Antarctica broke off from South America, it created swirling currents that sweep up nutrients from the bottom of the ocean, making it one of the richest waters on earth. In the summer, humpback whales come there to feast on shoals of krill, blowing curtains of bubbles and spiraling inwards to capture the swarm. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Weddell Seal Pups: Surviving Antarctica, narrator Sir David Attenborough reveals the challenges newborn seal pups face in one of the harshest environments on Earth. From enduring subzero temperatures and blizzards to entering the icy water for the first time, every decision impacts their survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In King Penguins: A Crowded Colony, explore the remarkable life of the king penguins on South Georgia Island. Amid half a million birds, chicks must stay put to be found by their returning parents who rely on unique calls to reunite. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
Printables
Invite students to create their own penguin cartoon characters based on what they have learned about the characteristics and behavior of real penguins. Use these printables with the K-2 Antarctica lesson: Create Your Own Penguin.
Have each student select a penguin species to research and synthesize their notes by creating a research journal page.
Embark on an Antarctic research expedition with your students! Write a journal entry from the perspective of a research scientist about their experience in Antarctica.
Take your students on a research journey to Antarctica! Explore what is known about the animal, identify gaps in scientific knowledge, and suggest future research areas.
Invite students to create their own penguin cartoon characters based on what they have learned about the characteristics and behavior of real penguins. Use these printables with the K-2 Antarctica lesson: Create Your Own Penguin.
Have each student select a penguin species to research and synthesize their notes by creating a research journal page.
Embark on an Antarctic research expedition with your students! Write a journal entry from the perspective of a research scientist about their experience in Antarctica.
Take your students on a research journey to Antarctica! Explore what is known about the animal, identify gaps in scientific knowledge, and suggest future research areas.