Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polar Expeditions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students consider the implication of polar exploration. In this polar exploration lesson, students research the expeditions that Admiral Peary, Dr. Cook, Captain Scott, and Roald Amundsen made to the North and South Poles. Students...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Brrrr! Expeditions to the North and South Poles

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars examine the first successful explorations of the North and South Poles, through a study of the four men who accomplished them. They present the fruits of their research on posters, or with PowerPoint presentations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Antarctica I

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars explore exploring and expiditions then simlate their own on campus. They divide into small "expedition groups." Have each team report back to the class about their expeditions, using written, oral, or videotaped...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stories That Go with the Territory

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate various expeditions throughout history to new and/or uncharted territories. They work in groups to develop and 'produce' television news magazine segments about some of these historic expeditions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Uncovering the Tales of Famous Explorers and Their Historical Expeditions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate various expeditions throughout history to new and or uncharted territories. They participate in groups in order to develop and produce television news magazine segments about some of these historical expeditions.
Website
Other

Peary & Henson Foundation: The Discovery of the North Pole

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Admiral Peary's North Pole discovery, view pictures of the expedition, and find biographical information on the American Arctic explorer.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: The Dangerous Race for the South Pole

For Students 9th - 10th
After two Americans staked claim to reaching the North Pole, a Norwegian explorer and a British naval officer each set out for the last unmapped region in what newspapers called a "Race to the Pole." Elizabeth Leane sets the scene for...
Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Robert E. Peary and Matthew Henson

For Students 9th - 10th
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1986 to commemorate the discovery of the North Pole by Robert E. Peary and Matthew Henson. With a short passage on the details of their famous discovery.
Website
Other

Rhode Island College: The Fate of Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this website for multimedia resources and links to other sites with information on Sir John Franklin and his expedition.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Matthew Alexander Henson

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Matthew Alexander Henson, an American black explorer who accompanied Robert E. Peary on most of his expeditions, including that to the North Pole in 1909.