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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can locate the Arctic and explain why the region is important.

      Key learning points

      1. The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land.
      2. Around 4 million people live within the Arctic circle.
      3. The Arctic region has many natural resources including oil, uranium, minerals and fish.
      4. Countries around the Arctic circle claim they have rights to some resources.

      Keywords

      • Arctic Circle - an imaginary line at latitude 66°33'N, marking the boundary of the Arctic region

      • Indigenous peoples - the original inhabitants of a region

      • Natural resource - materials available in the environment that support our wants and needs

      Common misconception

      The Arctic region is uninhabited.

      Approximately 4 million people live in the Arctic region.

      Teacher tip

      Use Google Earth to explore the Arctic region. You can also show the Arctic region on different maps.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), 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

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is a glacier?

      A frozen ocean
      Correct answer: A slow-moving river of ice
      A snowy mountain

      Q2.
      Where are most glaciers found?

      The Equator
      Deserts
      Correct answer: High mountains and polar regions
      Rainforests

      Q3.
      What is permafrost?

      A frozen lake
      A cold-weather storm
      A type of ice
      Correct answer: Ground that stays frozen all year

      Q4.
      Which continent is home to most of the world’s ice?

      Asia
      Correct answer: Antarctica
      Europe
      Africa

      Q5.
      How does melting ice affect sea levels?

      Sea levels stay the same
      Sea levels drop
      Correct answer: Sea levels rise
      There is no effect

      Q6.
      What is the main cause of rising global temperatures?

      Volcanoes
      Correct answer: Greenhouse gases from human activity
      Wind power
      Solar flares

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which continent is the Arctic mainly located in?

      Africa
      Asia
      Correct answer: North America
      South America

      Q2.
      Which of these countries is part of the Arctic region?

      Egypt
      Correct answer: Canada
      India
      Brazil

      Q3.
      What is the Arctic Circle?

      A mountain range
      A time zone
      Correct answer: A line of latitude near the North Pole
      A river

      Q4.
      Roughly how many people live in the Arctic region?

      Fewer than 10 000
      Around 500 000
      Correct answer: About 4 million

      To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Countries in the Arctic, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...