http://classroomantarctica.aad.gov.au/
This website has a wealth of information and activities to help teachers introduce life and science in Antarctica. There are images, charts, and lots of engaging activities on a wide range of topics including understanding the continent, exploration and explorers, plankton, krill, sea birds, seals, whales, penguins, food webs, sea ice, glaciers, icebergs, clothing, shelter, insulation, anti-freeze, sun and earth, geology and weather. It also has activities based on art and sculpture.

Activity: Students draw an Antarctic food web and then illustrate the animals to scale. What would happen if one of the animals disappeared? Students then solve an Antarctic murder mystery—Who’ s eating who? (By Louise Huffman)

http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/Resources/schoolzone/resources/SchoolsPack/download.html
The British Antarctic Survey has developed an “Antarctic Schools Pack” which is downloadable and provides images and information on living and working in Antarctica, science in Antarctica, the Antarctic Treaty, geology, ice, climate, ozone hole, lake ecosystems, marine species, tourism, and environmental protection and conservation. This website also has a picture gallery, posters and an interactive section called, “Fun and Games.”

Activity: Divide your class into expert groups. Either have them choose one of the topics from the Schools Pack list, or assign topics to groups. Have them read the information and use a “jigsaw” technique to share with the rest of the class.
(By Louise Huffman)

http://www.discoveringantarctica.org.uk/index.php
This interactive website has many quizzes, videos, lesson plans and activities to introduce students to Antarctica. Topics include climate, location of Antarctica, the Antarctic Treaty, penguins, whales, albatross, ships, icebreakers, and emperor penguins.

Activity: Students can explore the many interactives in a computer lab, or the teacher can use this website to introduce a study of Antarctica. The videos are very short clips that give a quick glimpse of the wildlife and physical features of Antarctica, and the interactives present an overview of factual information in a fun format.
(By Louise Huffman)

http://nsidc.org/data/glacier_photo/special_collection.html
This page by the US National Snow and Ice Data Center gives access to 14 pairs of glacier pictures showing the loss of ice over time. (You need to scroll down the page, click the box titled, “Long-Term Change Photograph Pairs;” then scroll to the bottom of the page and click “submit.”)

Activities: Print out the glacier pair photographs. Put the dates on the backs. Have students match the photos by noting topographical features, shapes of landmarks, etc. Using the website, identify where the glaciers are located and mark them on a world map. Discuss what strategies they used to match them. Compare areas to historical records of climate and temperature of the areas during the period of time when the photos were taken.
(By Louise Huffman)

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/lesson_plans/underice2.html
This page on the pbs.org website has a good hands-on, inquiry lesson on the properties of insulation, including the adaptation of blubber used by penguins, whales and seals. There are several other easy-to-use, with moderate material set-up, lessons with many links to other resources.

Activities: Students use their hands as a “short-haired dog” in need of insulation so he can visit Antarctica. Directions on the website are clear as to how to set up this inquiry.
(By Louise Huffman)