The hunt for fun, engaging, and informative teaching resources can be challenging. Especially for those wanting to teach students about Antarctica or about the polar regions. We are delighted to launch our brand-new ESRI StoryMap Collections. These focused teaching and learning resources can be used in the classroom, or as part of home learning, integrating key geographical techniques.
These ESRI StoryMap collections include GIS resources for students to explore key concepts, embedded ‘talking heads’ videos from our experts, interactive activities, and stunning imagery and photography.
Dr Bethan Davies of AntarcticGlaciers.org and her collaboration of different experts have created two educational StoryMap Collections aimed at Key Stage 3 audiences alongside supporting introductory articles. These are funded by the Antarctic Science Bursary.
The two StoryMap Collections published today are: An Introduction to the Physical Geography of Antarctica, and The Wildlife of Antarctica. These StoryMap Collections are focused around the Polar Literacy Principles to improve public understanding of the polar environments, namely Antarctica.
An Introduction to the Physical Geography of Antarctica allows students to explore Antarctica as a continent. It covers the geographical position, bedrock geology, and its unique and diverse icy features.
The Wildlife of Antarctica Collection begins with information and activities related to the different penguin colonies found in Antarctica. It introduces where penguins live and even showing how different colonies are located using the Sentinal Playground Hub. Finishing, with a conversation between Dr Huw Griffiths from the British Antarctic Survey and Dr Bethan Davies. Their discussions range from krill as a tiny crustacean, all the way to the food web of Antarctica.
Learning Resources
The two StoryMap Collections introduce GIS tools including measurement tools, attribute tables, and different layers, aiding students understanding and developing key skills in different geographical techniques.
The students are narrated through each map, video or infographic, and is led to a series of activities to be completed as part of classroom or with home learning.
We would love to hear your thoughts on these StoryMap Collections, and how they have been used as teaching and learning resources for both teachers and students. Leave any comments below!
On the page ‘Global Ocean Circulation’, (https://www.antarcticglaciers.org/glaciers-and-climate/ocean-circulation/) under the paragraph ‘Ocean Circulation and the Thermohaline Conveyor’ there is a misleading sentence. “They (warm ocean currents) are able to do this because they are warmer and have a higher salinity and thus are less dense. When salt is dissolved in water, the chlorine and sodium ions bind closely with water molecules, only increasing the total volume of a given amount of water slightly, less than adding together the separate volumes of water plus salt. Combining the ideas of colder and salinity in the same sentence is misleading. Increased temperature decreases density, but salinity increases density. From Ralph in Michigan
Paragraph updated.
Whoops. The last sentence of the 18/03/2024 comment should read “Combining the ideas of temperature and salinity in the same sentence is misleading.