New
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Lesson 7 of 12
  • Year 9

Antarctica: A frozen wilderness

I can describe the location of Antarctica and explain how it is studied.

Lesson 7 of 12
New
New
  • Year 9

Antarctica: A frozen wilderness

I can describe the location of Antarctica and explain how it is studied.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Antarctica is a continent at the southern most point of the world.
  2. 91% of all glaciers are found in Antarctica.
  3. Scientists across the world work in Antarctica, but no-one lives there permanently.

Keywords

  • Glacier - a huge accumulation of ice and snow that moves slowly over land

  • Continent - a large continuous area of land on Earth

  • Antarctic Treaty - a natural area largely untouched by humans

Common misconception

Antarctica is an ocean covered in ice.

Antarctica is a continent, not an ocean. It has a landmass beneath its thick ice sheets, unlike the Arctic, which is sea ice floating on the ocean.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: Antarctica: A frozen wilderness, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

There a lots of news articles documenting Antarctic research and recent changes to ice.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the primary reason Antarctica is so cold?

It is covered in mountains that trap heat
Correct answer: It is far from the equator and receives little sunlight
It is close to the Arctic Circle

Q2.
Which of the following is true about the landscape of Antarctica?

It is a tropical rainforest
It is mostly desert with no ice
It has lush, green forests
Correct answer: It is covered almost entirely by ice

Q3.
Why is Antarctica often called a 'desert'?

Because it gets little sunlight
Correct answer: Because it receives very little precipitation
Because it has no animals
Because it is covered in sand

Q4.
Antarctica is a ...

country
Correct answer: continent
county

Q5.
Which hemisphere is Antarctica located in?

Northern hemisphere
Correct answer: Southern hemisphere
Western hemisphere

Q6.
Which animal is famously associated with Antarctica?

Correct answer: Penguins
Kangaroos
Lions

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Antarctica is ...

an ocean covered in ice.
Correct answer: a continent, not an ocean.
a tropical archipelago.

Q2.
91% of all in the world are found in Antarctica.

Correct Answer: glaciers

Q3.
What is the primary characteristic of Antarctica’s climate?

Correct answer: Extremely cold temperatures
Hot and humid weather
Warm temperatures with heavy rainfall
Mild, temperate conditions

Q4.
Who inhabits Antarctica?

The indigenous population
Correct answer: Researchers and support staff
No one lives there