This month our students from A1 Movers to C1 Advanced will talk about challenges and friendship in very cold weather conditions while they continue improving their English. Happy teaching!

1. 1
In the cold
Before saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring, this month’s activities give students
from A1 Movers to C1 Advanced the opportunity to talk about challenges and friendship in
very cold weather conditions. Our B2 First and C1 Advanced learners will find out about a
modern explorer breaking a record in the South Pole while working on listening, speaking and
writing. B1 Preliminary students will travel in time to learn about the ‘Race to the South Pole’
while practising all four skills. Finally, A1 Movers and A2 Flyers will have fun watching a video
about cool friendships in a very cold place. Happy teaching!
1. Take on the challenge!.................................................................................................... 2
2. Explorers and expeditions............................................................................................... 6
3. Coolfriends.................................................................................................................... 8
4. References....................................................................................................................10

2. 2
1. Take on the challenge!
Level: B2 First / C1 Advanced
Skills: listening, speaking, writing
Interaction: whole class activity, in pairs, individually
Time: 90 minutes
Warm up (10’) – whole class activity
• What’s the weather like today? Does the weather affect you? If so, how?
• Do you have a preference for sunny days, rainy days, etc.? Why (not)?
• How do sunny days make you feel? And rainy days? Why do you think that is?
• If you could, would you choose the place to live based on its climate? Why (not)?
• Some people go on trips to places with extreme weather conditions. Why do you think
that is?
• What is your opinion about this kind of activities? Why?
Lead in (10’) – in pairs
We are going to listen to Ray Zahab, who went on a trek to the South Pole.
• Why do you think he chose to go on that adventure?
• What qualities do you think a person like Ray needs for that type of journeys?
• What weather conditions do you think he had to endure during his trek?
Listening (15’) – individual
We are going to listen to a part of his presentation. You are going to listen twice.
Play the video up to 02.55.

3. 3
Now go back to the questions I asked you at the beginning. Would you give the same
answers? If not, answer the questions taking into account what you found out during the
listening activity.
1. Why did he choose to go on that adventure?
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2. What qualities do you think a person like Ray needs for that type of journeys?
___________________________________________________________________
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3. What weather conditions did he have to endure during his trek?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Now we are going to listen again. Answer these questions:
4. How long did it take Ray to reach the South Pole?
___________________________________________________________________
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5. What difficulties did he describe?
___________________________________________________________________
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6. What other trip did he tell us about?
___________________________________________________________________
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Follow up (10’) – whole class
• Would you like to go on an adventure like the one Ray described? Why (not)?
• Do you know about other people who have gone on journeys like this one? Can you
tell us about them?

4. 4
• Do you know about other people who have gone through a challenging situation?
Would you like to tell us about it?
• What aspects allowed them to overcome their challenges?
Writing (45’) – individual activity
Your school publishes an English-language magazine every month. Each time it focuses on a
specific theme. This month the theme is challenges. Read the notice and write an answer in
140-190 words.
KEY
1. What weather conditions did he have to endure during his trek?
It was 40 below every single day. He was in a massive headwind. The depleted ozone
layer forced him and his friends to cover their faces because otherwise they would
burn.
2. Why did he choose to go on that adventure?
While running across the Sahara Desert for 111 days, he learnt about the water crisis
and how it affected young people the most. After he finished, he understood that
human beings are capable of doing anything we set our minds to. Around that time, he
met someone who tries to solve water issues and he inspired Ray to come up with the
expedition to the South Pole.
3. What qualities do you think a person like Ray needs for that type of journeys?
Positivity, physical and mental strength, endurance, resilience, the ability to work in
teams.**
** other answers are also possible.
Now we are going to listen again. Answer these questions:
4. How long did it take Ray to reach the South Pole?
Articles wanted
We’re looking for articles about people who overcame challenges.
Do you know anyone who has gone through a difficult situation? Tell us about it –
describe the qualities that helped them overcome the challenge and the lessons they
learnt from it.
The best articles will be published in our next issue.

5. 5
It took him 33 days, 23 hours and 55 minutes.
5. What difficulties did he describe? Can you tell us at least three?
He had to drag a sled with 170 pounds gear; it was 40 below every day; it was very
windy; he had to cross cracks in the ice. Also, he had to walk over very thin ice that
could break at any moment. In addition, he had to walk uphill as the South Pole is at
10,000 feet and he started his journey at sea level. He had to walk in snow covering
up to his hip.
6. What other trip did he tell us about?
He told us about his run across the Sahara Desert, where he spent 111 days.

6. 6
2. Explorers and expeditions
Level: B1 Preliminary
Skills: listening, speaking, writing
Interaction: whole class activity, in pairs, individually
Time: 60 minutes
Warm up (10’) – whole class activity
• What’s the weather like today? Does the weather affect you? If so, how?
• Do you have a preference for sunny days, rainy days, etc.? Why (not)?
• How do sunny days make you feel? And rainy days? Why do you think that is?
• Some people go on trips to places with extreme weather conditions. Do you like the
idea? Why (not)?
Lead in (10’) – in pairs
At the beginning of the 20th century all the regions of the Globe had been explored and
mapped, with the exception of the North Pole and the South Pole. Roald Amundsen and
Robert F. Scott decided to go to the South Pole on two different expeditions. The explorers
started their journey at different times and took different routes but newspapers at the time
called their journeys a “Race to the South Pole”.
• Did you know about these explorers and their expeditions? If so, can you tell us a bit
more about them?
• What things do you think they found difficult?
• What is the weather like in Antarctica?
• Would you like to find out more about the race to the South Pole?
Listening (15’) – in pairs
We are going to watch a part of a video about the Race to the South Pole. You are going to
watch it twice.

7. 7
Play the video from 02.50.
1. Who arrived first at their destination?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. What did the first explorer who reached the Pole leave the second explorer?
___________________________________________________________________
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3. Were both explorers successful?
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Writing (25’) – in pairs
Your school is organising an English language story competition. The best story from Primary
Year 6, Secondary Year 1, Secondary Year 2, Secondary Year 3 and Secondary Year 4 will
receive a prize. If your story is selected, you will receive a 50-euro voucher to spend on books
or stationery.
Your story must begin with the sentence.
Pat looked at the map and decided to go right.
KEY
1. Who arrived first at their destination?
Roald Amundsen and his team arrived first. It was on 14th December 1911.
2. What did the first explorer who reached the Pole leave the second explorer?
They left flags, a tent marker and a letter for Scott, which wasn’t found until a month
later.
3. Were both explorers successful?
Although both explorers reached their destination, only one survived. Scott and his
team had a seriesof problemsand never made it back to their base. Their bodieswere
found, together with Amundsen’s letter in spring 1912.
Useful vocabulary
 Path – a route or track between one place and
another
 Attempt - the act of trying to do something,
especially something difficult.
 Uncharted area – an area that has not had a
map made or has not been described.
 Mishap – bad luck
Extra
support

8. 8
3. Cool friends
Level: A1 Movers / A2 Flyers
Skills: speaking and reading
Interaction: individual, in pairs and whole class activity
Time: 30 minutes
Warm up (10’) – whole class activity
 What’s the weather like today?
 What was the weather like yesterday?
 What’s your favourite weather? Why?
 What clothes do you wear when it is sunny and hot?
 What clothes do you wear when it is cloudy and cold?
 What clothes do you wear when it is rainy?
Lead in (10’) – in groups
Dog and Pug are in the Antarctic. It is very cold. They are going to meet a penguin; he is very
cold, so Dog and Pug want to help him. Answer these questions before watching the video.
1. Find a map, where is the Antarctic?
2. What is the weather like there?
3. What animals live in the Antarctic?
Now watch the video:

9. 9
1. Pug is trying to help his new friend. What is he doing?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. Was the problem solved? Why (not)?
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3. What do Dog and Pug decide to do at the end?
_________________________________________________________________________
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Stop the video at key moments and ask your students to tell the story in turns. Help them to
make the story more engaging by:
• Using names e.g. Pug and Dog.
• Including feelings e.g. happy or cold.
• Including short dialogues e.g. Pug says “I can help the penguin”.
• Using time expressions such as first, then, next, at the end.
KEY
1. Pug is trying to help his new friend. What is he doing?
Pug is standing near the penguin so he feels warmer.
2. Was the problem solved? Why (not)?
No, because Pug and the penguin fell down a mountain and the penguin was still
feeling cold.
3. What did Dog and Pug decide to do at the end?
They decided to build an igloo.

10. 10
4. References
BBC (1996). Dog Loves Warm [online]. CBeebies. Available at:
https://www.cbeebies.com/watch/dog-loves-warm/ [19th January 2023].
Judah, J. (2018). White and Black Mountain Wallpaper. [image / jpeg]. Available at:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-black-mountain-wallpaper-933054/ [19th
January 2023].
Leane, E. (n.d.). The dangerous race for the South Pole [online]. TED. Available at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_leane_the_dangerous_race_for_the_south_pole/
transcript?language=en [19th January 2023].
Lehman, B. (2018). Dog Wearing Crochet Scarf With Fringe While Sitting on Snow Selective
Focus Photography. [image / jpeg]. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/dog-
wearing-crochet-scarf-with-fringe-while-sitting-on-snow-selective-focus-photography-
1436134/ [19th January 2023].
Maderebner, F. (2018). Two Man Hiking on Snow Mountain. [image / jpeg]. Available at:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-man-hiking-on-snow-mountain-869258/ [19th
January 2023].
Pixabay. (2016). Close Up Photography of Penguin on Snow. [image / jpeg]. Available at:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photography-of-penguin-on-snow-86405/
[19th January 2023].
Zahab, R. (2009. My Trek to the South Pole [online]. TED. Available at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/ray_zahab_my_trek_to_the_south_pole/transcript?languag
e=en [19th January 2023].