Since Bunica and Ratpaw just set off for a three week visit to the coldest continent in the world, it made sense to study what we will surely be regaled with upon their return. Of course, everything begins with a map. Using the brochure from Bunica's expedition (in the photo above), the Eldest traced her voyage around the edges of the Antarctic Peninsula.
We played around with maps for a good part of the afternoon, exploring the edges of the known world, fiddling with the colors in which such things are "known".
The Fantastic Antarctica Map (They Draw and They Travel)
For the lapbooking inserts, I combined free things found with things we made on the spur of the moment, intrigued by a particular I scoured the web for lapbooking resources and pooled the freebies together into one file which you can download and print below.
Antartica Lapbook Components (PDF)
There was so much to explore and learn that our expedition turned into something between a unit study, a lapbook, and a reckless cavorting. Loads to learn and see at Time Magazine for Kids' special Antarctica Mini-site.
resources for free exploration of antarctic climate and geography
Land of Ice worksheet (Time Magazine for Kids)
The Ozone Hole Tour (Center for Atmospheric Studies)
Ice sheets (British Antarctic Survey)
Ice shelves (British Antarctic Survey)
Ice streams (British Antarctic Survey)
Explorapoles (International Polar Foundation)
Tip of the Iceberg Notebooking Page (PDF)
A creative writing exercise.
Gibbs Island Icefalls Coloring Exercise (PDF)
A description and topographic coloring activity of "icefalls".
Deception Island Foldable Booklet (PDF)
Printable booklet on the history of Deception Island.
free resources on antarctic explorations
Exploring Antarctica worksheet (Time Magazine for Kids)
Polar Exploration worksheet (Time Magazine for Kids)
The best resource page for every single expedition (Scott Polar Research Institute)
free resources on antarctic species and life
Emperor penguin adaptations worksheet (Time Magazine for Kids)
Go Penguins Go worksheet (Time Magazine for Kids)
Three kinds of penguins worksheet (Time Magazine for Kids)
As we continue our trip through the icefalls and ice streams of the Antarctic, I'll try to add what we learn from Bunica's voyage. On the slate for Friday: An investigation of expeditions and explorers who dared to go where no landlubbering mammals had gone before.
