1. A Vacation to the Polar Regions Overview: The students will learn about the characteristics of the Arctic and Antarctic by looking at a globe and at pictures of the polar landscape and animals. They will plan a vacation to one of these regions and draw pictures or write stories depicting themselves on the trip. Ashley Neff2.3.3 Places and Regions: Compare neighborhoods in your community and explain how physical features of the community affect people living there.
2. Geography, world history Connections to the National Geography Standards: Standard 4: "The physical and human characteristics of places" Standard 5: "That people create regions to interpret Earth's complexity" Connections to the Curriculum:
3. Globe: Flat or spherical shape representation that has the location of places on the earth. Ex: Continents, states, oceans, capitals, landmarks. Arctic: Location on the map that is located on the top or bottom that is furthest away from the equator. It is very cold and harsh living conditions. Definitions:
4. Thought… In what ways do you view the entire world? How do others view the world? Ways to view the world
5. Materials Required:Computer with Internet access Globe Drawing materials Objectives: Students will view the poles on a globe; discuss what it might be like in the polar regions, and answer some questions about these regions; show the routes they might take from their home to each of the Poles; view pictures of the polar regions; sketch the things they might see on a visit to the polar regions; share their pictures with the class; and draw pictures or write stories of themselves visiting one of the polar regions.
6. Hold up a globe, point out the North and South Poles. Point out the polar regions (above the Arctic and Antarctic Circles), and what they think it might be like in these places. Does the globe give any clues as to what the climate might be like (e.g., white to represent ice)? Pre-Activity:
7. Pretend you are planning a big vacation to visit each of the polar regions. Look at the globe then answer these questions in a class journal. Which region is closest to your home? Which region has the most water, and which has the most land? Which continents are closest to the North Pole? Which continents are closest to the South Pole? At the computer station:
8. Divide the class into two groups, and assign each group either the Arctic or the Antarctic region. Have students look at pictures from their assigned region and draw their own sketches of the things they see. Some pictures can be found at the Web sites below, but students also can use additional Internet or print resources. Label one side of the classroom "North“ and the opposite side "South." Display students' drawings in the appropriate parts of the room. Extanded Activity:
