Discover Antarctica and delve into the history of Endurance’s discovery, with this Ernest Shackleton KS2 lesson plan from Steve Brace...
100 years ago, Shackleton’s ship – the Endurance – was crushed by ice and sank to the bottom of the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. Against the odds, Shackleton famously saved all his crew.
In March 2022, the Endurance22 expedition discovered the ship’s remarkably preserved wreck, three kilometres beneath Antarctica’s frozen seas.
Few teachers and pupils could have failed to be moved by this discovery. It reveals more than just a shipwreck, opening up new opportunities for primary pupils to discover Antarctica’s unique environment and an unsurpassed story of human endeavour and endurance.
Ernest Shackleton KS2 learning objectives
- The key features of Antarctica’s unique land and seascapes
- The role of historic explorers and modern scientists
- Comparison across geographical locations and historic time
- Endurance and fortitude
Steve Brace is a former geography teacher and is now Head of Education at the Royal Geographical Society. Follow Steve on Twitter at @Stevebracegeog.
