ACTIVITY 1. Virtual Fieldtrip to the Antarctic

1.Brainstorm a list of questions about the Antarctic.

2. Locate the Antarctic on a map/ globe.

3. Tell students they are going on a virtual-fieldtrip to the Antarctic. They can take notepaper along to record interesting facts and answers to brainstormed questions.

4. Explore Glacier <http://www.glacier.rice.edu/>. Go to the Introduction and look through each of the subjects in the side bar. Read and Learn. Other sections of this web site provide information on Antarctic Weather, Ice and Oceans. Explore other virtual fieldtrip sites:

Virtual Trip to the Antarctic <http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/vtour/> and

5. Class discussion. What interesting facts did you learn? What questions can you now answer?

6. Write 2-3 paragraphs about the Antarctic.

ACTIVITY 2. Survival in the Antarctic

1. Check the temperature and weather conditions at

Cold Science <http://www.usatoday.com/weather/antarc/acoldsci.htm>

Antarctic Connection <http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/weather/index.shtml>

2. Small Group Challenge - Pretend you are going to the Antarctic. Your team can only take 5 items. What will your group take in order to survive? Remember, there is no electricity. Write down your 5 items.

3. Groups compare what they chose to take and why?

4. Go to the US Antarctic Program for researchers to see what gear is recommended for them to take to the Antarctice <http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/antarctica/background/NSF/field-guide/manual.html>

ACTIVITY 3. Jack's Adventure

USA Today's weather editor, Jack, went on a trip to the Antarctic in January, 1999. Use this site to read Jack's daily journal, see pictures, learn more about weather phenomena and read his answers to questions asked about the Antarctic. Scroll down to find the link to Jack Williams' journal.

Antarctic - a Cold Science <http://www.usatoday.com/weather/antarc/acoldsci.htm>