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The Race to the South Pole

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Polar Regions|Ages 7—9|ID: mt_islVn_P28Z

Know the story of the race to the South Pole in detail — Norwegian Roald Amundsen and British Robert Falcon Scott both set out in 1911, Amundsen arrived first on 14 December using dog sleds and careful planning, Scott arrived 34 days later using man-hauled sledges and tragically died with his team on the return journey; also know about Ernest Shackleton's 1914 Endurance expedition where the ship was trapped and crushed by ice, and Shackleton's extraordinary boat journey to South Georgia to rescue his crew

Mastery Evidence

  • Describe the Scott vs Amundsen race: Amundsen arrived 14 December 1911 using dog sleds; Scott arrived 34 days later and died on the return
  • Explain at least two reasons Amundsen succeeded: better planning, dog sleds, polar experience, and lighter supplies
  • Narrate the key events of the Endurance expedition: ship crushed, camps on ice, boat journey to South Georgia, all crew rescued

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] tell you the detailed story of Amundsen and Scott's race to the South Pole — who won and why, what went wrong for Scott, and the incredible survival story of Shackleton's Endurance?”

Prerequisites2

Show full prerequisite tree
  • Brave Polar Explorers hard

    Detailed exploration stories build on simple explorer introductions

    • Where Are the Poles? hard

      Must know where the poles are before learning about explorers who went there

  • Comparing Arctic & Antarctic soft

    Understanding Arctic vs Antarctic geography enriches the exploration narrative

    • Polar Animals soft

      Knowing a range of polar animals enriches the detailed comparison

      • Arctic vs Antarctic hard

        Must know Arctic vs Antarctic before learning which animals live where

      • Penguins soft

        Penguins and polar bears are the anchor species; other animals build on these

        • Arctic vs Antarctic hard

          Must know penguins live in Antarctic (not Arctic) from the comparison topic

      • Polar Bears soft

        Polar bears are the anchor species; other animals build on these

        • Arctic vs Antarctic hard

          Must know polar bears live in Arctic (not Antarctic) from the comparison topic

    • Arctic vs Antarctic hard

      Detailed comparison builds on basic Arctic vs Antarctic distinction

Unlocks2