---
title: "Comparing Arctic & Antarctic"
description: "Compare the Arctic region, centered on an ocean with floating sea ice and surrounding lands, with Antarctica, an ice-covered continent larger than Europe. Identify animal examples from each region wit"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/comparing-arctic-and-antarctic-mt_z9jn9HogfE
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/comparing-arctic-and-antarctic-mt_z9jn9HogfE.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Comparing Arctic & Antarctic

Compare the Arctic region, centered on an ocean with floating sea ice and surrounding lands, with Antarctica, an ice-covered continent larger than Europe. Identify animal examples from each region without assigning all penguins or albatrosses to Antarctica. Compare long-established Arctic communities with Antarctic research stations, including their scientists, support workers and winter staff.

Subject: Science · Area: Polar Regions · Ages 7 to 9
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/comparing-arctic-and-antarctic-mt_z9jn9HogfE

## Ready when they can

- Describe the Arctic Ocean and surrounding lands, name two bordering countries, and explain that Antarctica is a continent with ice about 4 kilometers thick in some places
- Name three Arctic animal examples and three examples found in Antarctica or its surrounding Southern Ocean, without treating the examples as exclusive ranges
- Compare long-established Indigenous communities in the Arctic with Antarctica's lack of an Indigenous population, and describe scientists and support workers staying at Antarctic research stations, including through winter

## Lesson: Comparing Arctic & Antarctic

You have compared the polar regions before. The Arctic is centered on an ocean, with floating sea ice and surrounding lands. The whole ocean is not frozen all year. Antarctica is a continent surrounded by ocean. Most of its land lies under a thick ice sheet.

Canada, Russia and Norway have coasts on the Arctic Ocean. Greenland borders it too. Greenland is a large island within the Kingdom of Denmark, not a separate sovereign country.

Inuit and other Indigenous peoples have lived in Arctic communities for thousands of years. These communities are on land, not floating sea ice. Antarctica has no Indigenous population. Scientists and support workers stay at research stations there. Some stay through winter.

Polar bears, Arctic foxes and walruses are Arctic examples. Emperor penguins live in Antarctica. Leopard seals and some albatrosses are found in the surrounding Southern Ocean. Other penguin and albatross species live elsewhere. Penguins are not native to the Arctic.

Antarctica is larger than Europe. Its ice sheet is about 4 kilometers thick in some places and thicker in others. This is ice resting on land. Arctic sea ice is frozen seawater floating on the ocean.

*(drawing: These words compare sea ice and land ice. They are not a map or a scale drawing.)*

**Recap.** The Arctic centers on an ocean; Antarctica is a continent. Their animals and communities differ. Antarctic stations have scientists and support workers, including winter staff.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [More Polar Animals](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/more-polar-animals-mt_7OJjLOl0fz)
- [Arctic vs Antarctic](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/arctic-vs-antarctic-mt_aO018DkCun)

## Opens up

- [Polar Climate Zone](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/polar-climate-zone-mt_GbZFuGDFsa)
- [The Race to the South Pole](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/the-race-to-the-south-pole-mt_islVn_P28Z)
- [Antarctic Treaty & Research](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/antarctic-treaty-and-research-mt_itldWmVItr)
- [Inuit & Sami Peoples](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/inuit-and-sami-peoples-mt_rqalOvjkj3)
- [The Arctic Tundra](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/the-arctic-tundra-mt_X4CJpPRxae)