Classroom Resources  
Lesson Plan

Exploring Antarctica as Scientists

BBC Antarctica Lesson Collection
In this lesson, your students will step into the shoes of Antarctic scientists! They'll dive into the fascinating world of Antarctic research stations and unique wildlife with video clips from BBC’s Seven Worlds One Planet and Frozen Planet. After exploring the videos and researching more about this frozen continent, your students will write a creative journal entry from the perspective of a research scientist sharing their experiences in Antarctica. You’ll wrap up the lesson with a meaningful class discussion about why studying Antarctica matters and how the discoveries made there could shape our world.
Lesson Plan Info
Subject:
Science
Topic:
Environmental Science
Grades:
9-12
Time:
60 Minutes
Standards
C3 F
D1.5.9-12
Comm
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.4CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.7CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.2
Keywords
frozentundracoldcold conditionspenguinschinstrap penguinsemperor penguinsking penguinsAdélie penguinsyoung penguinsGentoo penguinsHumboldt penguinsAntarcticaAntarcticAntarctic PeninsulaAntarctic PlateauSouth PoleNorth Poleresearch

Learning Objectives

Students will:
• Analyze BBC video clips and internet sources to gain deeper insights about Antarctic wildlife and research conditions;
• Create a journal entry from the perspective of a research scientist who shares their experience and findings;
• Consider why it is important for the scientific community to keep learning about Antarctica.

Resources for This Lesson

Video
Antarctic Exploration: Discoveries at the South Pole
In Antarctic Exploration: Discoveries at the South Pole, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how scientists on Antarctica work to learn about the atmosphere, how volcanoes influence the air we breathe, about cosmic rays that are just reaching Earth, and what the interior of Antarctica is made of. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
Video
Chick Competition: Adélie Penguins
In Chick Competition: Adélie Penguins, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how penguin chicks huddle together for warmth as they wait for their parents to bring them food. When the parent penguins arrive, it’s a feeding frenzy, and not every chick will get enough to eat. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
Video
Strange Sea Creatures Thrive Under the Ice
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.
Video
The Sophisticated Feeding Technique of Humpback Whales
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.
Video
A Moment in the Sun: Spring in the Arctic
In A Moment in the Sun: Spring in the Arctic, narrator Sir David Attenborough walks us through time-lapse videography showing how the Arctic transforms during the spring and what this means for the Arctic poppy and the hearty, persistent woolly bear caterpillar. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
Video
Weddell Seal Pups: Surviving Antarctica
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.
Printable
Become a Research Scientist With These Grade 9-12 Antarctica Worksheets

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. 

Teaching the Lesson

Engage

  • Let your students know they're about to watch an exciting clip from BBC’s Frozen Planet series, all about a scientific research station in Antarctica!

  • Hand out the 5Ws chart before the video and explain that they’ll use it to stay focused and sharpen their observation skills while watching.

  • Play the BBC video clip, Antarctic Research Station. Afterward, invite your class to share their thoughts and discuss the final question on the worksheet: “How has humanity opened up the ‘Last Frontier?’”

  • Wrap up by explaining how humanity has ventured into Antarctica by building innovative research stations. These structures allow scientists to live and work in the extreme cold, unlocking the mysteries of one of the most remote and unexplored places on Earth.

 

Analyze

  1. Let your students know they’re about to step into the shoes of research scientists! Their mission? To travel (in their imaginations) to the Antarctic Research Station, study wildlife, and help uncover the secrets of Antarctica for the world.

  2. Hand out the Antartica activity sheets and walk through the instructions together. Make sure they know:

  • They’ll pick two videos about Antarctic wildlife that spark their curiosity.

  • As they watch, they’ll jot down key facts on their activity sheet and think about what mysteries might still be waiting to be solved.

  • Using their notes, they’ll craft a journal entry, sharing what it’s like to explore and study wildlife in this icy frontier!



Collaboration & Create

 

  1. Have your students team up with a partner to share their completed research and compare what they’ve learned.

  2. Hand out the Antarctica Journal Activity Sheets and go over the directions as a class. Make sure your students understand:

  • They’ll use their notes from the BBC videos to summarize their findings so far.

  • If they need more details to complete the journal prompts, they can do a quick Internet search to gather additional information.

  1. Wrap up the session with a class discussion: Why is it important for scientists to study Antarctica? How could the discoveries made there impact the world? Encourage thoughtful reflections and ideas!

 

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Lesson Plan
Exploring Antarctica: Let's Be Research Scientists
Take your students on a research journey to Antarctica! In this lesson, students will become Antarctic scientists as they explore the continent’s unique wildlife using video clips from BBC’s Seven Worlds One Planet and Frozen Planet. Students will watch the videos, then research an Antarctic animal of their choice. They will explore what is known about the animal, identify gaps in scientific knowledge, and suggest future research areas. Finally, students will present their findings in a class display to inspire others to learn more about this amazing environment!