Right now there are a number of expeditions to the South Pole in progress. One such expedition is the South Pole Quest expedition sponsored by an organization called Impossible to Possible (I2P). The South Pole Quest expedition is producing fantastic educational materials for students and teachers. The expedition members are posting updates, answering questions from students, posting audio podcasts, and updating their progress on an interactive map. There are some introductory videos available on the website and soon videos from the expedition will be available. By visiting the South Pole Quest website students can find out all kinds of information about the physical and life science of Antarctica. Here's a question to get your students thinking about life in Antarctica, why is this man eating a block of butter?
Applications for Education
The South Pole Quest is producing great educational content to use in a science class. The education page of the South Pole Quest website has fifteen complete learning modules available as PDF files.
Beyond the obvious uses of the South Pole Quest's website in a science class, having students visit the website might inspire a student to learn more about adventure expeditions. A reluctant reader may decide, after listening to the podcasts or reading about this expedition, that he or she wants to read a book about Antarctic expeditions. In which case you may want to recommend a book about Shackleton's expedition.
Here are some other web resources about Antarctic exploration.
Shackleton Centenary Expedition
South Pole.com
NOVA - Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance
American Museum of Natural History - The Endurance
Cool Antarctica
British Antarctic Survey
