Ask the students about their knowledge of life in Antarctica and raise the fact of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and its scientists.

Main activity
Students write a diary entry as a scientist staying at the South Pole Station.

They should include the main information from the Teachers' Background section and the news story.

More diary entries are available on the British Antarctic Survey's website.

Plenary
Some students present their diary entries and the rest of the class appraise for use of empathy and descriptive quality.

Teachers' Background
Wildlife facts

• WWF has joined other organisations in urging that it be given special protection.

• The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica and has been declared an international whale sanctuary.

• No native human population in Antarctica.

• No large land animals.

• Microscopic life in summer meltwater ponds.

• Tiny wingless insects living in patches of moss and lichens.

• Two types of flowering plants.

• Emperor and Adélie penguins and Ross seals are dependent on the surrounding sea for food.

• Fur and elephant seals were hunted in 19th Century.

• In the 20th Century hunting shifted to baleen whales.

• In 1986 the International Whaling Commission imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling.

Climate facts

• Low temperature, high winds and frequent blizzards.

• Warmest month average around freezing (0°C).

• Winter average temperature as low as -57°C.

• Continuous darkness in winter.

• Precipitation is in the form of snow.

• One can see for tens of miles in clear weather and mirages are common.