The Coldest Continent

About this Daily Classroom Special
WinterWeb is an interactive site using the cold of winter as the focus of interdisciplinary activities.  WinterWeb was written by  Lottie Simms, teacher at  Lawton Chiles Middle School, in Miami, Florida and former Teachers Network web mentor.

Objective:

The students will use the Internet to research information about Antarctica, the coldest continent. This research will be used to seek answers to teacher designed questions, gather data for collaborative exchange with other classes, and serve as a basis for creating original works of art.

Standards:

National Council for Social Studies

Standard III - People, Places, & Environments

Standard IX - Global Connections

National Science Standards

Standard A - Science as Inquiry

Standard B - Physical Science

Standard C - Life Science

National Standards for Art Education

Art/Content Standard 1. Creation/Performance -All students will engage in self or group expression by creating original or interpreting works of art.

 

Materials:

Computers with Internet Access

Pre-research reading activity on Antarctica

Construction/Drawing paper

Crayons, Markers, or Tempera Paints & Brushes

Wall Map of the World

Copies of the Pre-research Reading Activity

 

Procedure:

Familiarize the students with the continent of Antarctica by having them locate it on the large wall map.

Discuss the type of climate in Antarctica and the reasons for its low temperatures.

Distribute copies of the Pre-research reading activity and have students read silently or read aloud to answer the basic questions at the bottom of the reading passage.

After reading the Antarctica passage, have students draw a picture of what they think the first explorers to Antarctica saw. Have them interpret their drawings citing reasons for the objects they put in their drawings.

Using the Internet, have students visit Antarctica sites to learn facts about the coldest continent. Sites and activities may include:

Return to the Winter Web HomePage