Study Guides

Unit Summary

This unit explores the North and South Poles through their locations, climates, landscapes, wildlife and ways of life. Pupils learn to compare the Arctic and Antarctic using maps, images and geographical vocabulary to describe features of cold environments.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use a range of geographical sources to describe Antarctica and its extreme weather and climate.

Key Notes

• The Antarctic Circle is an imagined circle around the South Pole that surrounds the area known as the Antarctic.
• Antarctica is a large region, surrounded by the Southern Ocean, and is the coldest and windiest continent on Earth.
• Some of Antarctica's Ice Cap is more than four kilometres thick.
• Antarctica can double in size by the end of the Antarctic winter as the sea ice around the continent increases.

Vocabulary To Learn

• Antarctic Circle: An imaginary line around the earth which surrounds the southern polar region known as the Antarctic
• ice cap: A large, permanent covering of ice on land
• climate: The average weather conditions, e.g. rainfall, hours of sunshine and winds, over at least 30 years

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Antarctica is a country.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Antarctic wildlife Study Guide
• Arctic wildlife Study Guide
• Living in the Antarctic Study Guide
• Living in the Arctic Study Guide
• Locating the North and South Poles Study Guide
• The North Pole and the Arctic Study Guide
• The world's cold places Study Guide