Teacher Workbooks Cyber-Starters Antarctica Volume 1 Copyright 2006 and its licensors. All rights reserved. Teachnology Publishing Company A Division of Teachnology, Inc. For additional information, visit us at www.teachnologypublishing.com
Table of Contents Theme About Antarctica 1-3 Animals of Antarctica 4-6 Environment 7-9 Explorers 10-12 Global Warming 13-15 Ice 16-18 Icebergs 19-21 Marine Life 22-24 Mountains 25-27 Penguins 28-30 Seabirds 31-33 Seals 34-36 Threats to Antarctica 37-39 Treaty of Antarctica 40-42 Weather 43-45 Format Cyber-Starter 1-45 iii
Date Grade About Antarctica Cyber Starter Do people live in Antarctica? What kind of life is there? Did you know that there are seasons in Antarctica? Answer the questions below to discover more about this important place. Use the resources to help you. Resources 1. http://web.archive.org/web/20041011074415/www.glacier.rice.edu/invitation/1_natives.html Life on Antarctica 2. http://web.archive.org/web/20041011080111/www.glacier.rice.edu/invitation/1_seasons1.html Seasons 3. http://web.archive.org/web/20041011071155/www.glacier.rice.edu/invitation/1_background.html Location 4. http://web.archive.org/web/20041010165557/www.glacier.rice.edu/invitation/1_introduction.html Description 1
Questions: 1. Write a description of Antarctica. 2. Where is Antarctica located? 3. Antarctica is covered by two thick sheets of ice. Name them. 4. Name the three parts of Antarctica. 5. What animals inhabit this continent? 6. What lives on the land? 2
7. Do people live in Antarctica? 8. What lives in the water? 9. Does Antarctica have seasons? 10. What surrounds Antarctica? 3
Date Grade Animals of the Antarctic Cyber Do the same animals life on Antarctica and the Arctic? Did you know that some animals visit the Antarctic only in the summer? Find the answer to the questions below. Use the resources to help you. Resources 1. http://www.geographicguide.com/antarctica.htm Images of Antarctica 2. http://www.abcteach.com/themeunits/antarctica/antarctica1.htm Birds of Antarctica 3. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/index.shtml Wildlife on Antarctica 4. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/seals/index.shtml Seals 5. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/whales/index.shtml Whales 6. http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/antarcanimals.htm More wildlife 4
Questions: 1. How many kinds of flying birds spend their summer in Antarctica? Name some of these birds. 2. What non flying birds live in Antarctica? 3. Name the largest insect on this continent. 4. What is krill? 5. How many species of seals are there? Name three of them. 6. Name four kinds of penguins. 5
7. Name other animals that live on Antarctica. 8. How many species of penguins are there? 9. Which animals are considered the most magnificent and intelligent of the Antarctica marine animals? 10. Name four types of fish found in the Antarctica. 6
Date Grade Antarctica Environment Cyber Starter Do polar bears live in Antarctica? Did you know that the Antarctic was part of a super continent? Find out more about Antarctica by answering the questions below. The resources will be helpful to you. Resources 1. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica%20environment/whats% 20it%20like%20in%20Antarctica2.htm Resources 2. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica%20environment/whats% 20it%20like%20in%20Antarctica.htm Land information 3. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/fascinating_facts_about_antar.htm Fascinating Facts 4.http://web.archive.org/web/20041011074415/www.glacier.rice.edu/invitation/1_natives.html Who Lives in Antarctica 7
Questions: 1. What are the three nearest land masses around Antarctica? 2. Why does the Antarctic double in size in the winter? 3. Why is the Antarctic considered to be a desert? 4. Name some of the natural resources of Antarctica. 5. How has the wildlife been exploited? 6. Why is the South Pole colder than North Pole? 8
7. Do human beings live on Antarctica? 8. Why doesn t Antarctica have polar bear? 9. Antarctica was part of Gondwanaland up until 180 million years ago. Explain what happened to this super continent. 10. What is a Nunatak? Explain how these are very useful. 9
Date Grade Explorers of the Antarctic Cyber Starter The explorers of Antarctica were known as heroes. They encountered dangers that required courage. Discover what these dangers were by answering the questions below. Use the resources to research answers. Resources 1. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/history/the_heroic_age_of_ Antarctic_exploration.htm Heroic Age of Antarctica Exploration 2. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/history/exploration%20and %20history.htm Timeline for explorers 3. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/history/roald %20amundsen.htm Amundsen 4. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/history/robert%20falcon %20Scott.htm Scott 5. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/history/douglas %20Mawson.htm Mawson 6. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/history/ernest %20Shackleton_Trans Antarctic_expedition.htm Shackleton 10
Questions: 1. Who were the first to come up with the idea on Antarctica? In what year? 2. Explain how they came up with the name Antarctic. 3. When was the first known landing on Antarctica? Name the explorer. 4. What years were known as the heroic age of Antarctic Exploration? 5. Summarize the resolution adopted by the Sixth International Geographical Congress. 6. Where and in what year did this take place? 11
7. What was Roald Amundsen s primary intention in his expedition? 8. Give some details of Douglas Mawson s Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911 1914. 9. Who was the most famous of all the Polar explorers? What is he known for? 10. What was the intention of Ernest Shackleton s exploration? Did he accomplish his purpose? 12
Date Grade Global Warming and the Antarctic Cyber Starter Are there signs of global warming on Antarctica? How significant are they? Use the resources to help answer the questions below. Resources 1. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/060821b_wire.aspx Ozone Hole 2. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200608/s1702788.htm Cloud appearance over Antarctica 3. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/science/global_warming.htm Evidence of global warming 4. http://www.voanews.com/english/2006 08 08 voa39.cfm Pro and con views from scientists 13
Questions: 1. What is Global Warming? 2. Explain the evidence of Global Warming as seen by the break up of the Larsen B ice shelf. 3. What effect do glaciers have on ice shelves? 4. Explain the shortage of krill? 5. What is the Ozone Hole? 14
6. Some countries tried to fix the Ozone Hole problem in Antarctica. What happened as a result of this endeavor? 7. Explain why the appearance of rare clouds over Antarctica could be an indicator of Global Warming. 8. Many scientists think global warming is due to human activity. Do you agree? Why? 9. Should we be concerned about global warming in the Antarctic? 10. What can you do to help this problem? 15
Date Grade Antarctic Ice Cyber Starter Scientists and researchers have been looking at the Antarctic ice to learn about the past. Find out how the ice tells stories about the past and can help us in the future. Answer the questions below by using the resources to assist you. Resources 1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/almanac.html Information from the ice 2. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/stories/ Stories in the Ice 3. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/22mar_ice.htm?list60358 Ice Sheets, importance of 4. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/live/antarctica.html More about Antarctica 16
Questions: 1. What is an ice core? 2. How are ice cores obtained and why? 3. What do scientists do with this information? 4. What is the range of thickness of ice on Antarctica? 5. What was the largest glacier ever sighted? 6. Compare the ice on Antarctica to the total ice in the world. 17
7. Open #2 in the Resource section. Click on the bottom of the page, Ice Core Timeline. Click on Global Warming. Explain what was discovered near the Russian Vostok station in Antarctica. 8. Why is it important to track ongoing changes in Antarctic ice sheets? 9. Explain the importance of Antarctica once being tropical. 10. What is the connection between ice sheets and sea levels? 18
Date Grade Icebergs of Antarctica Cyber Starters Imagine what it would be like to stand next to an iceberg! How do they get their shape? How much of the iceberg is beneath the surface? Use the resources to answer these questions and the questions below. Resources 1. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica %20environment/icebergs2.htm Erosion of icebergs 2. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica %20environment/seaice%20formation.htm Sea ice formation 3. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica %20environment/icebergs1.htm How icebergs are formed 4. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica %20fact%20file%20index.htm Facts about Antarctica 19
Questions: 1. How are icebergs made? 2. How much of an iceberg is beneath the surface? 3. What are bergy bits? 4. How do icebergs get their shape? 5. What causes icebergs to erode? 6. Describe fast ice. 20
7. What is pack ice? 8. What are ice pancakes? 9. How does tide crack help the wild life in Antarctica? 10. What happens to fast ice in the summer? 21
Date Grade Antarctica Marine Life Cyber Starter Do you know how important krill are to Antarctic marine life? What are they? Why are they so abundant? Answer the questions below to discover more about marine life on Antarctica. The resources will help you. Resources 1. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/whales/whaling2.htm Whaling 2. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/krill.htm Krill 3. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/whales/food%20web.htm Size, food 4. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/science/marinelife.shtml Fish 5. http://www.70south.com/resources/antarctic animals/antarctic marine life/antarcticfish Antarctic fish 22
Questions: 1. Name two reasons why whales are the largest animals to have lived. 2. Name at least five whale species. 3. What is krill? 4. Why are krill so abundant in Antarctica? 5. What is the life span of krill? 6. How many species of krill are there? 23
7. What are the two most abundant groups of fish in the Antarctic? 8. How many species of Antarctic fish are there? 9. Read about some of the Antarctic fish. Name two fish that you find interesting. Why? 10. When was the first fish caught in Antarctica? During what expedition did this take place and in what year? 24
Date Grade Mountains of Antarctica Cyber Starter Did you know that Antarctica is divided by mountains? Discover the name of these mountains and much more by answering the questions below. Use the resources to help you. Resources 1. http://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/scenic/mountains2/peaks_ice_and_nunataks.htm Nunatak 2. http://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/scenic/mountains2/mountain%20weather.htm Weather 3. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/science/mountains.shtml Transarctic Mountains, dry valleys 4. http://www.house.gov/boehlert/antarctica.htm Antarctic Peninsula, mountain facts 25
Questions: 1. Explain why the Transarctic Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains in the world. 2. Explain how these mountains divide the continent. 3. Summarize how the Dry Valleys were formed. 4. What is a nunatak? 5. Is there life on nunataks? 26
6. Describe the mountain weather. 7. What is the Sunshine Glacier? 8. Name the peninsula that has many mountains. 9. Which mountains are the tallest? 10. Name the ice free areas of Antarctica. 27
Date Grade Penguins of Antarctica Cyber Starter Did you know that only some penguins live on Antarctica? Are any penguins endangered? What are the threats? Answer these questions and the questions below. Use the resources below to help you. Resources 1. http://www.gdargaud.net/antarctica/penguins.html Adelie Penguin 2. http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/downey/project/penguins.html Adaptation to cold 3. http://www.biosbcc.net/ocean/aapenguins.htm Species of penguins 4. http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/penguin.html Galapagos penguin 28
Questions: 1. What makes penguins a unique bird? 2. How many species of penguins are there? 3. How many of these species are found in Antarctica? 4. Explain how penguins have adapted to the cold. 5. Explain the swimming abilities of the penguin. 6. Which is the most common of all penguins in the Antarctic? 29
7. What are rookeries? 8. Which penguin species is endangered? 9. Explain the threats to these penguins. 10. Name your favorite penguin? Explain why. 30
Date Grade Seabirds of Antarctica Cyber Starter Did you know that there is a bird that spends summer in the Arctic and winter in Antarctica? Find out more about the seabirds of Antarctica. Use the resources to help you answer the questions below. Resources 1. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/antarctic_skuas.htm Skuas 2. http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_antarctica/wildlife/birds/other_birds.html Habits, seabirds 3. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/birds/index.shtml General information on seabirds 4. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/arcticternprintout.shtml Arctic Tern 5. http://www.wctc.net/~ssteven/antarc/photos/birds.htm Birds as companions 31
Questions: 1. Which seabirds are the first to arrive on Antarctica after the long winter? 2. How many species of seabirds breed on the Antarctica Continent itself? 3. When the other birds arrive on Antarctica in the spring and summer, where are they coming from? 4. How are Antarctic seabirds physically different from other birds? 5. Name eight types of Antarctic Seabirds. 6. Which birds are the best known marine birds? 32
7. Which species constitutes the majority in this region? 8. Describe the Antarctic Skua. 9. Discuss the migration of the Arctic Tern. 10. Explain how the birds of Antarctica are constant companions to ships. 33
Date Grade Seals of Antarctica Cyber Starter Seals are found not only in Antarctica but around the world. Find out more about the seals of Antarctica. Use the resources to help you answer the questions below. Resources 1. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/seals/index.shtml Information on seals 2. http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/downey/project/seals.html Species 3. http://www.geneseo.edu/~antarc/week7/ Common seal 4. http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~kpt/terraquest/va/science/seals/seals.html Protection 5. http://nmml.afsc.noaa.gov/education/pinnipeds/seals.htm Species of seals 6. http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/edu/student_pages/2000/rdavis/animals.htm Description 34
Questions: 1. How many species of seals are there? 2. In two sentences, describe interesting facts about seals including how they look. 3. Why are there more seals in Antarctica than in the Artic? 4. What do the seals eat in Antarctica? 5. Name the most common seal in Antarctica? 6. Name the three categories of seals. 35
7. Why are seals protected from being harvested? 8. Explain how seals sleep. 9. Name the four species of seals that live year round on Antarctica. 10. There are two other species of seals that visit the Antarctic. Name them. 36
Date Grade Threats to Antarctica Cyber Starter How long will Antarctica remain in pristine condition? Discover the threats to Antarctica by answering the questions below. Use the resources to help you. Resources 1. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/science/threats_fishing_hunting.htm Fishing 2. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/science/threats_mining_oil.htm Mining 3. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/ science/human_impact_on_antarctica.htm Global impacts 4. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/science/threats_pollution.htm Pollution 5. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/science/threats_tourism.htm Tourism 6. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/endangered_antarctic_animals.htm Endangered animals 37
Questions: 1. What two areas have the potential to cause damage to the Antarctic environment? 2. Why is Antarctica a sensitive indicator of Global change? 3. How does Global Warming affect the Antarctic? 4. Name at least three potential problems of the Antarctica fisheries. 5. What is another name for the Patagonian Toothfish? What is significant about this fish and the Antarctic? 38
6. Why would it be dangerous and expensive to extract minerals on Antarctica? 7. How are oil spills and flotsam a threat to the Antarctic? 8. Name two threats to Antarctica from tourists. 9. Name at least five endangered animals on Antarctica. 10. Give your opinion about the importance of preserving the Antarctic environment. 39
Date Grade Antarctica Treaty Cyber Starter Did you know that the whales and seals on Antarctica where not always protected? They were at the brink of extinction at one time. Learn more about the treaty that saved this continent. Answer the questions below. The resources will help you! Resources 1. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/science/conservation.htm Purpose of treaty 2. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/science/antarctic_treaty_summary.htm Treaty members, articles 3. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/science/antarctic_treaty_summary.htm Articles, other nations sign treaty 4. http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/science/madrid_protocol.htm Madrid Protocol 40
Questions: 1. What was the purpose of the Antarctica Treaty? 2. What nations signed the original treaty? 3. In what year was the treaty signed? When did it enter into force? 4. In what nations archives is the treaty kept? 5. How many articles are in the treaty? 6. Why are dogs not allowed on Antarctica? 41
7. Until the 1960 s, what was happening to animals on Antarctica? What about pollution? 8. People travel to Antarctica for what purpose? 9. Explain the purpose of the Madrid Protocol in 1991. 10. What is a protocol? 42
Date Grade Antarctic Weather Cyber Starter Imagine furious winds and whirling snow all around you. Imagine yourself in the coldest, driest continent in the world. The resources will help you to discover more about Antarctica by answering the questions below. Resources 1. http://www.timeforkids.com/tfk/magazines/story/0,6277,418673,00.html Winter season 2.http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica%20environment/ weather.htm Weather Phenomena 3. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/antarctica/extremes.html More about weather 4. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/weather/index.shtml Temperature and weather 5. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/weather/wind.shtml Winds and storms 43
Questions: 1. What is the phenomenon of the solar pillar? 2. Where is the Drake Passage located? 3. Explain the weather conditions in the Drake Passage. 4. What are the ranges of water temperature in Antarctica? 5. How long is winter in Antarctica? 44
6. Why is the weather so frigid in Antarctica? 7. What is the Annual percentage of precipitation in the Antarctic? 8. When is solar radiation at zero in the Antarctic and why? 9. What is the difference between a blizzard and a whiteout in the Antarctic? 10. Why is Antarctica known for its furious wind and storms? 45