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Antarctic Education Websites

See below for:

Schools and school-aged students

The list is roughly arranged in age-related order, starting with sites appropriate for primary school pupils. For sites in languages other than English, please see the subheadings below. Sites of interest to teachers and students may also be found below under General Interest and Explorers. See also the Fun Antarctic-related Activities at the foot of the page.

Emperor Penguins and Adélie Penguins - Creature Features from National Geographic.
Emperor Penguin colouring sheet and information - from Enchanted Learning.
Penguin colouring pages - realistic penguin pictures to print and colour, including colour-by-numbers and dot-to-dot.
Penguin adults and chicks colouring sheet - a National Geographic picture from Edupics.
Habitat Awareness - Antarctica (USA).
Kids' pages from the Scott Polar Research Institute (UK).
ABCteach Directory - colouring pages, flashcards, activity sheets and other resources on the Antarctic for primary teachers.
Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears - an online magazine integrating science, literacy, and the polar regions.
The South Pole Adventure Webpage - experiments and activities.
Science Project Ideas - simple experiments for parents and teachers to carry out with children (UK).
Science Comic Books - science questions answered in comic book form, from SCOSTEP (Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics) (in English, Italian and French).
Tunnel Man Movies (The Man of Permafrost) - music, movies and information from UAF's Permafrost Outreach Program.
Antarctica Learning Quests and Lesson Plans from EDNA, Australia's online network for Educators.
Polar Education Resources - annotated list of internet resources for polar education, tagged by grade level, subject area, and resource type, including lesson ideas, eBooks, photo galleries, video and audio podcasts, and background content information for educators - from Texas A&M University.
EducaPoles - educational materials and activities for all school ages from 5-18, from the International Polar Foundation (English, French and Dutch).
Penguins Marching Into the Classroom - get a postcard from Antarctica, follow penguin families as they raise their chicks, learn how penguins are coping with climate change - from Penguin Science.
Conservation and protection of Antarctic marine species - information on living resources in the Southern Ocean and the work of CCAMLR (the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) (English, French, Spanish and Russian).
The Arctic vs. the Antarctic - a short video by Camille Seaman showing how to tell the two poles apart.
Cool Antarctica - resources for students of all ages, covering environment, science, history, animal and marine life.
OurCoolSchool - Learning modules and activities on the Arctic, Antarctic and Greenland for grades 1-10 (Australia).
Antarctic Food Web - from Cool Antarctica.
Classroom Antarctica - Comprehensive Online Teaching Resource (aimed at 10-14 year olds) (Australia).
Antarctica's Climate Secrets - resource materials for teaching climate change (10-15 year olds) (resources in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French).
Sun Shadows Project - a easy-to-do class project for ages 10-18, involving real-time gathering of research data in parallel with measurements in the Antarctic landscape (Italian Museo Nazione dell'Antartide and the IPF).
Discovering Antarctica - Antarctic Education Website for Schools (11-16 year olds) (UK).
Shipwrecks, Sealers and Scientists on Macquarie Island - journals, challenges and mysteries (12-16 year olds) (Australia).
What color is a Glacier? - a video compiled from six field seasons around the Arctic and Antarctic, it shows how complex the answer is and why it matters.
Antarctic Glaciers - Common misconceptions about glaciers, essay questions and projects (17-18 year olds and teachers) (UK).
Antarctic Glacier Map - map showing the location of Antarctic ice features such as glaciers, ice sheets, shelves, etc.
Visualizing and Understanding the Science of Climate Change - a series of interactive, learning tools aimed at 16-19 year old students and secondary teachers.
The Science of Climate Change - visualizations helping to explain some underlying science and chemistry of processes which contribute to climate change (from KCVS, Canada)
Polar Feasts: the polar food web - an IPY resource for teachers on linkages in polar ecosystems.
Sea Ice Classroom Activity - investigate the physical and biological complexity of sea ice - an IPY resource for teachers.
ANDRILL Education and Outreach - resources and projects about polar science and geoscience (Antarctic Geological Drilling project).
POLAR-PALOOZA - video podcasts and soundscapes showing IPY research in both the Arctic and Antarctic, from NSF and NASA (USA).
The Southern Ocean and Global Climate (Australia).
NSF Arctic and Antarctic Classroom Resources (USA).
Princess Elisabeth Antarctica - follows activities at the first zero emission Antarctic research station (English, French and Dutch).
The Ozone Hole Tour - the result of research work at Cambridge University and aimed at school and college students (UK).
Resources for Teachers with interests in ITASE (International Trans Antarctic Scientific Expedition) (USA).
US National Science Digital Library - a library of resources for K-12 teachers in science and mathematics (USA).
Polar Classroom Activities - resources for primary and secondary educators from the International Polar Year office.
Geographical Statistics Factsheet from the British Antarctic Survey - area, length, heights, ice, ocean and distances.
Penguin Theme - links to information, photos, resources and ideas on a penguin theme from Pratt's Educational Resources.
Passport to Antarctica - Researcher journals, hands-on activities and more from "electronic field trips" to McMurdo Station, South Pole and Palmer Station (USA).
Polar Books: The Antarctic Collection - online education and outreach resources from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Dutch

Keep it Cool - educational platform for primary education (in Dutch).
EducaPoles - educational materials and activities for all school ages from 5-18, from the International Polar Foundation (English, French and Dutch).
Natuurinformatie - a general website on environment, ecology and natural history with pages about the polar regions. Meant for secondary schools (in Dutch).
Pooljaar - blogs by Dutch scientists from the Artic and Antarctic, climate related issues for secondary school students (in Dutch).
Fair Nature - a website on climate change and sustainability, focusing on polar areas (mainly Arctic), of interest to general public but mainly aimed at secondary education (in Dutch).
Princess Elisabeth Antarctica - follows activities at the first zero emission Antarctic research station (English, French and Dutch).

French

Conservation and protection of Antarctic marine species - information on living resources in the Southern Ocean and the work of CCAMLR (the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) (English, French, Spanish and Russian).
EducaPoles - educational materials and activities for all school ages from 5-18, from the International Polar Foundation (English, French and Dutch).
Science Comic Books - science questions about the Aurora and the Geomagnetic Field answered in comic book form, from SCOSTEP (Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics) (in English, Italian and French).
Antarctica's Climate Secrets - resource materials for teaching climate change (10-15 year olds) (resources in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French).
Princess Elisabeth Antarctica - follows activities at the first zero emission Antarctic research station (English, French and Dutch).

German

Antarctica's Climate Secrets - resource materials for teaching climate change (10-15 year olds) (resources in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French).

Italian

Science Comic Books - science questions answered in comic book form, from SCOSTEP (Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics) (in English, Italian and French).
Antarctica's Climate Secrets - resource materials for teaching climate change (10-15 year olds) (resources in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French).
Progetto Smilla - education site from the European ANDRILL project (in Italian, with some pages translated into English).
un insegnante in Antartide - a blog about the experiences of an Italian teacher at the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station in Antarctica (in Italian).
Museo Nazione dell'Antartide, Genova, Italia - percorsi tematici e laboratori didattici applicativi / thematic itineraries and didactic laboratories at the museum (in Italian and English).

Japanese

Japanese outreach HP for children (in Japanese) and Japanese general outreach HP (in Japanese).

Portuguese

Portal Polar - IPY website which includes science, education and outreach activities from Portugal (in Portuguese).

Russian

Conservation and protection of Antarctic marine species - information on living resources in the Southern Ocean and the work of CCAMLR (the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) (English, French, Spanish and Russian).

Spanish

Conservation and protection of Antarctic marine species - information on living resources in the Southern Ocean and the work of CCAMLR (the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) (English, French, Spanish and Russian).
El Color del Hielo - an online story book for children and young people, set in Antarctica (in Spanish).
Circuito Antártico de Punta Arenas Para Niños - The Antarctic City Tour of Punta Arenas, Chile, with historic information about polar explorers, narrated and illustrated for kids (in Spanish).
Antarctica's Climate Secrets - resource materials for teaching climate change (10-15 year olds) (resources in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French).
Antártica Educativa - General information about Antarctica and Chilean Antarctic activities (in Spanish).
Introducción al Conocimiento Antártico - 'Introduction to Antarctica', a fully illustrated book in pdf format in Spanish (Chile).
Feria Antártica Escolar / Antarctic High School Fair and Expedición Antártica Escolar / Antarctic High School Expedition for Chilean teenagers (both in Spanish), and a brief description in English.
Asociación Civil ANTARKOS - ONG supporting Uruguayan Antarctic activities and working in education, outreach and communication about the poles (in Spanish).

Higher Education and Further Training

Sites of interest to higher level students may also be found below under General Interest

Polar Graduate Programmes Database - searchable database of graduate programmes with a focus or specialty in any field of Arctic, Antarctic and cryosphere; including geology, physics, ecology, social sciences, law and more.
Higher Education: Graduate Studies (NZ)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies - a 15-week, multi-disciplinary, introductory programme which includes an Antarctic field trip. Closing date is 1 August each year. For more information, see the programme brochure.
PhD School in Polar Studies / Scuola di Dottorato in Scienze Polari - Department of Earth Sciences, University of Siena (Italy).
NSDL, an on-line library of resources for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and research (USA).
Gateway Antarctica - information on education opportunities in Antarctic studies in New Zealand.
International Antarctic Institute (IAI).
Australian Antarctic Magazine - informing the international Antarctic community of Australian Antarctic activities.
Tips on Research Design for undergraduates and post-graduates.
University of Groningen Discussion site on various scientific subjects, including polar items, mainly for higher education (Dutch/English).
PolarTREC (Teachers & Researchers Exploring & Collaborating) a programme of the Arctic Research Consortium of the US (ARCUS), aimed at giving science teachers a chance to participate in polar research - The 2014 scheme is open for applications from teachers and researchers until 16 September 2013.
Students On Ice - educational expeditions to the Antarctic and Arctic for students, educators and scientists from around the world.
PolarEDUCATORS Workshop, at the IPY 2012 Conference, 20-22 April 2012 - two-day professional development workshop in natural and social sciences as they relate to polar education. Includes talks and hands-on activities with polar scientists, educators and indigenous Arctic community members, as well as leaders and innovators working on some of the most critical issues facing the planet. Deadline for applications is 14 November 2011. Some partial travel support will be available to help educators requiring assistance.

General Interest

South Pole - the history and exploration of the polar regions and surrounding islands.
Cool Antarctica - Antarctica pictures, information and travel.
Freeze Frame - historic polar images, 1845-1982 from the Scott Polar Research Institute.
Antarctic History from the Polar Conservation Organisation.
Expeditions and Discoveries - Harvard University Library's Open Collections Program features major expeditions through published and unpublished materials, including a number of Antarctic expeditions.
Polar Discovery - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution website about the Poles.
The Antarctic Sun - news about the US Antarctic Program, the ice and the people.
International Polar Foundation.
Circuito Antártico de Punta Arenas - 'The Antarctic City Tour of Punta Arenas, Chile', with historic information about polar explorers' activities in this city (in Spanish).
Preguntas más frecuentes sobre la Antártica - frequently asked questions about Antarctica (in Spanish).
Nederlands Instituut voor Ecologie (NIOO-KNAW) - information about polar research (in Dutch).
Young scientist's blog 2009 - news and views from a researcher currently in the Antarctic on an IPY cruise and Antarctic research base (in Portuguese and English).
NOAA Photo Library: The Antarctic.
SciencePoles - an overview of polar science, research findings and current developments from the International Polar Foundation.
Antarctic Islands - Information, photos and maps on all the Antarctic and Sub Antarctic islands.
Antarctic Bases and Antarctic Ships - Information on Antarctic research stations and research ships.
Portal Polar - IPY website which includes science, education and outreach activities from Portugal (in Portuguese).
Centre for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica (CARA) - investigates the origin of structure of the universe from the polar plateau.
Visible Earth: Cryosphere - NASA images of icebergs, ice sheets and glaciers.
Antarctic Animals - detailed information on Antarctic birds and mammals, from the Polar Conservation Organisation.
The Crabeater Seal - Seal Conservation Society.
Antarctic Krill Conservation Project (in Ukrainian).
Subglacial lakes and rivers - diagram showing the distribution of lakes and rivers beneath the Antarctic ice.
Climate Change:
- Climate Insights 101 - short courses on climate change from PICS (the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions).
- Skeptical Science - getting sceptical about global warming scepticism by looking at the science and peer-reviewed scientific literature on global warming.
Glaciers:
- Glaciers Online - Swiss education website with information and images of glaciers from all over the world.
- Antarctic Glaciers - Explaining the science of Antarctic glaciology.
- What color is a Glacier? - a video compiled from six field seasons around the Arctic and Antarctic, it shows how complex the answer is and why it matters.
- Antarctic Glacier Map - map showing the location of Antarctic ice features such as glaciers, ice sheets, shelves, etc.
The Southern Ocean:
- Southern Ocean - The World Factbook.
- WWF, the global conservation organization - Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
- Marine Science: Antarctica.
- Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
- Directory of sea-related websites from Nausicaä.
- NERC Planet Earth Podcast on coastal flood defences and the Southern Ocean.

Explorers

The Captain Cook Society - everything about James Cook (1728-1779).
James Clark Ross (1800-62).
Roald Amundsen (1872-1928).
The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition (1914).
Polar Explorers - Biographical details of polar explorers, from the Polar Conservation Organisation.
Explorapoles - an overview of polar expeditions and explorers from the International Polar Foundation (English and French).

Fun Antarctic-related activities for the young (and young-at-heart!)

Dress a scientist in Antarctic clothing (follow the link, then Click on "Multimedia").
Listen to the calls of emperor penguin chicks (follow the link, then Click on "Emperor Penguin chicks").
Watch a slide show of a scientist's journey to Antarctica (follow the link, then Click on the small white arrow at the right of the photo to see the next picture).
Try to keep your egg warm in this penguin game.
Cute penguin pictures to print and colour.
Pingu colouring sheets.
Meet the penguin who doesn't want to swim, and other penguin news stories.

Disclaimer: SCAR accepts no responsibility for the content of external websites. If you find any broken links, or wish to suggest a new link, please email info@scar.org.

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research

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