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Brave Polar Explorers

Know simple stories of brave polar explorers — Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen who raced to the South Pole, and Ernest Shackleton whose ship Endurance was crushed by ice but who brought all his men home safely — and understand that polar exploration required incredible courage and endurance

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What a learner can do afterwards

  • Name at least two polar explorers: Scott, Amundsen, or Shackleton
  • Tell the basic story of Scott and Amundsen's race to the South Pole in simple terms
  • Describe what happened to Shackleton's ship Endurance and how he brought his crew home safely

The lesson

Long ago, two brave men raced to the South Pole. Their names were Scott and Amundsen.

Race startsAmundsen 1stScott 2nd
Amundsen crossed the finish line first. Scott arrived second, weeks later.
Try it together

Ernest Shackleton sailed to Antarctica on a ship named Endurance. Thick ice crushed the ship, and it sank. Shackleton kept his whole crew safe. He brought everyone home.

Good to know

Explorers need courage to face cold, danger, and the unknown. Being brave does not mean feeling no fear at all.

Two men raced to the Pole, and Shackleton saved his crew.

Watch it

Where it sits

Where this leads

Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.

Then practise

8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.

Brave Polar Explorers · Science, ages 5 to 7 · LightMySky