Description

The Antarctica is a continent of superlatives.  The coldest, driest and windiest of all the continents.  Considered a desert, even though it is covered by a vast ice sheet and snow.  The continent has an annual precipitation of only 200mm (8″) along the coast and less rain, inland.  Double the size of Australia, the Antarctica Continent covers the Geographic South Pole, one of the two axis of rotation intersecting the Earth.

Explore the continent with no permanent human habitation.  There are, however human settlements, where scientists and support staff live for part of the year on a rotating basis.

Imagine waking up to a day without end and the fantastic Aurora Australis lights, as a curtain of light, shimmering majestically and mysteriously above your head, with waves of green, red and orange running through the mystical “airscape”.  Or to go fishing with your dad (or son), trying to catch the little Icefish, who’s head looks like a crocodile.

Children love to learn about how others live, what they do and eat.  Stories reveal ideas, beliefs and facts about others.  They prompt a thirst in you, to explore and experience for yourself.   The Antarctica Continent, image and fact cards offer a structure for the teacher.  S/he can weave stories behind the images and facts.  These provide a means for children to experience what others experience.  As there are no humans living permanently on this continent, teachers will help to paint a picture of what the scientists do on the continent.   The Child will be stimulated and gain an insight to the desolation and horrific conditions that penguins, whales and other animals live in in this desert.    This activity widens our children’s knowledge and awareness of others, allowing them the opportunity to grow their understanding of the world:

Contents: of the Antarctica Continent Cards

36 Image cards stored and displayed in a clear acrylic holder for storage or story-telling.

The image cards, accompanied by fact cards for the teacher, consist of the following:

• Antartica Description (3 cards)

  how many scientists live there in winter?  how long is their winter?  if the weather is so bad how do they get their food and supplies?

• Types of homes (1 cards)

the Neumayer III, is the closest to a “home” in the traditional sense, to be found in Antartica, what is it used for?  it is built on ice, do you know the name of the “land” upon which it is built?  how thick is this land?

• Natural wonders (6 cards)

the Blood Falls, a nearly frozen waterfall is red, why?  why does the glacier ice look blue sometimes?  do the glaciers move?  how fast is the fastest glacier moving?  how much of an iceberg is visible above the water?

•   Man-made wonders (7 cards)

the British Antarctic Survey Company runs a series of research stations, what is their name?  how do the scientists prevent them being covered in snow?  approximately how many tourists visit the Antarctica every year?  how do they move around the island to view the wildlife?

• Animals (11 cards)

the animal wildlife are the real inhabitants of the Antarctica, in the Adelie Penguin group, who looks after the baby chicks?  the Icefish looks very strange, they have an unusual head and have adapted to prevent their bodies from freezing, how do they do this?

• Plants (6 cards)

the Deschampsia Antarctica hair grass is native to the Antarctica, mainly on the South Orkney Islands.  recently, due to climate change, these plants are germinating further and further away from the Antarctica continent, due to the warmer weather.

• Climate Change (2 cards)

how is climate change impacting this continent?  how much of an iceberg is visible above the water?  what size can an iceberg reach?  where do icebergs come from?

The Antarctica Continent Cards bring the continent to life.

Primarily aimed at the 3 to 6 year child.  But suitable for the elementary child as reference with our Antarctica Continent Activity Set.

Children find the attractive images and fact cards, interesting and entertaining.   Each statement presents a new aspect of life to the child, prompting them to want to learn more.

Related Products

• Antarctic Mammals
• Polar Biome Folder
• Africa Continent Folder
• Europe Continent Folder
• Asia Continent Folder
• North America Continent Folder
• South America Continent Folder

Further Reading and Resources