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Antarctica: 90 Degrees South

Antarctica: 90 Degrees South

This PBS Western Reserve series goes south — so far south that it's almost north! — to discover the little-understood continent of Antarctica.

Teacher’s Guide

Part 1: Simulation—The year is 2050. The earth has become dangerously overcrowded. New lands must be explored. You are commissioned to explore Antarctica to see if habitation is possible. Students will be part of a fact-finding team to do research on their assigned topics. They will report their findings to the class. The class (or small group) will then collaborate on making a plan to determine how to acquire food, housing and transportation.

Part 2: Lesson Plans—Science related, hands-on lesson plans (geared to the state standards) deal with major issues about Antarctica. Lessons topics include glaciers, Arctic vs. Antarctic, food webs, insulation, penguins, core sampling, wind chill, the ozone layers and plate tectonics.

 

Instructional Television Programs

The videos, which include footage from Antarctica and interviews with experts, provide a balance between the need for progress and the need for preservation of this important continent. The five videos are:

  • Welcome to Antarctica — Overview
  • Antarctica Under Construction — Geology/Geography
  • Winter? Summer? How Can You Tell? — Weather/Seasons
  • I Thought Penguins Could Fly — Biology/Ecology
  • Do I Need a Passport? — Habitation

 

Each part of ANTARCTICA: 90 DEGREES SOUTHcan stand alone or the entire package can be used while doing the simulation. The teacher must decide the best approach for use in his/her classroom.

Educational Resources

Produced: 2004

Subject Area: Science

Grade Level: 3-8

Resources: Antarctica: 90 Degrees South Teacher Guide

Welcome to Antarctica — Overview

This PBS Western Reserve series goes south—so far south that it's almost north!—to discover the little-understood continent of Antarctica. The videos, which include footage from Antarctica and interviews with experts, provide a balance between the need for progress and the need for preservation of this important continent.

I Thought Penguins Could Fly — Biology/Ecology

This PBS Western Reserve series goes south—so far south that it's almost north!—to discover the little-understood continent of Antarctica. The videos, which include footage from Antarctica and interviews with experts, provide a balance between the need for progress and the need for preservation of this important continent.

Antarctica Under Construction — Geology/Geography

This PBS Western Reserve series goes south—so far south that it's almost north!—to discover the little-understood continent of Antarctica. The videos, which include footage from Antarctica and interviews with experts, provide a balance between the need for progress and the need for preservation of this important continent.

Do I Need a Passport? — Habitation

This PBS Western Reserve series goes south—so far south that it's almost north!—to discover the little-understood continent of Antarctica. The videos, which include footage from Antarctica and interviews with experts, provide a balance between the need for progress and the need for preservation of this important continent.

Winter? Summer? How Can You Tell? — Weather/Seasons

This PBS Western Reserve series goes south—so far south that it's almost north!—to discover the little-understood continent of Antarctica. The videos, which include footage from Antarctica and interviews with experts, provide a balance between the need for progress and the need for preservation of this important continent.