At-Home Activities: Polar Quest - Seek Out New Lands

Heather Martinson
Nov 14, 2020
4 min read

November 16-20

Workshop Class Activities

Craft – Cornucopia
Key Points – Polar Explorers
Collaborative – Race to the Pole Game
Language Arts – Foreign Language Simon Says
Math/Logic – Mapping the Antarctic
Prepare for Adventure – Polar Explorer Fashion Show
Big Activity – Polar Waste Management (recycling)
Movement – Pass the Present Game

Note: there will be no classes or at-home activities next week.

At-Home Activities

See a suggested week schedule at https://www.celebrationeducation.com/single-post/free-curriculum

Materials

various fiction and non-fiction books that relate to the poles
journal or lined paper
stationery
a cup of dry beans, a jar of pennies, a bag of marbles, or other large amount of an item
math bingo game problem cards and bingo cards – print the ones included or make your own
coins
sidewalk chalk
paper leaves, cut from construction paper https://onelittleproject.com/leaf-template/

Reading

Various fiction and non-fiction books that relate to the poles

Writing

Copywork

“The South Pole was like visiting Disneyland, Las Vegas, and Mars simultaneously.” – Victor Boyarsky
“Why then do we feel this strange attraction for these Polar Regions, a feeling so powerful and lasting, that when we return home we forget the mental and physical hardships, and want nothing more than to return to them?” – Jean-Baptiste Charcot

Language arts lesson

There are many special ways to use commas when you write a letter.

Use a comma to separate the month and day from the year. November 26, 2020
Put a comma at the end of the greeting. Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
Put a comma between the city and the state. Santa Ana, CA
Use a comma to set off interjections, like wow. Wow, I enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner.
Put a comma before too at the end of a sentence. We had pumpkin pie, too.
Put a comma after the closing. Love,

Writing Activity

Use stationery to write a letter to someone that you wish could spend Thanksgiving with you.

Journaling

Pretend you went on a polar expedition. Write about your adventures.

Math

Math Concept

A timeline is a display of a list of events in chronological order.

Math Project

Create a timeline about arctic exploration. Choose at least five events from these resources: http://www.south-pole.com/p0000052.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroic_Age_of_Antarctic_Exploration

Math Concept

When counting a large number of an item, it’s a good idea to make equal sets of the item, then to count the number of groups, and then multiply the number of sets by the number in each set.

Math Project

Estimate a large number of items such as a half cup of dry beans, a jar of pennies, or a bag of marbles. Have other family members also guess how many items there are. Write down each guess. Now count the actual number of the item by making equal sets of the item and multiplying the number of sets by the number of items in each set. Whose guess was the closest?

Mental math

Play a math facts bingo game. Cut apart the problem cards and place them in a cup. Choose one of the bingo cards or make your own. To play, draw a problem card. Place a marker on the number on your card that answers the problem – if it IS on your card. There may be more than one of the answer on your card, so you can choose which one to place the marker on. The first player to get five in a row any direction wins. You can make problem cards and bingo cards that are harder or easier, depending on your needs.

Math game

Play a coin toss game. Use sidewalk chalk to draw a large grid on the ground. Write 2, 3, 4 or 5 digit numbers inside each square. Each player tosses a coin onto the grid. Players compare the numbers their coins landed on. The player whose number is the largest scores a point. To make this game more difficult, try putting fractions and/or decimal numbers in the squares.

Projects

Research and Report

The International Space Station and the South Pole are both very difficult places to live. As a matter of fact, most people stay only a few months at either location. Research both environments. Create a Venn diagram that compares the two environments. What are the similarities and differences? You may want to include things like:

• temperature control

• number of inhabitants • longest time spent there • tourism

• types of jobs there • stores there • countries the inhabitants are from • how to get there • food • recycling • hygiene • entertainment • sleeping • communication

Themed Fireworks Project

Do a gratitude leaves project. Cut out many leaves. You and your family will write things you are thankful for, one thing on each leaf. Use these leaves for a Thanksgiving display such as:

• banner:

https://www.tobeakidagain.com/gratitude-alphabet-give-thanks-banner/

http://frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com/thankful-banner-for-thanksgiving-to-make-with-the-kids/

• turkey: https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/gratitude-turkey

• flowers: https://www.theottoolbox.com/gratitude-craft-counting-blessings-with/

• wreath: https://letslassothemoon.com/kids-thanksgiving-activities/

• tree:

https://msalishacarlson.com/thankfulness-trees/

https://www.theottoolbox.com/thanksgiving-tree/

6-week project

• Using the outline or mind map you made last week, write the first draft of your written report.

• Work on your display.

Other Ideas

Do some arctic crafts: http://www.stepbystepcc.com/arctic3.html
Learn a new language: https://www.duolingo.com/
Read polar survival stories: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/survival-stories-antarctica.html
Listen to The Frozen Tale of Lord Franklin: https://www.npr.org/2012/01/16/144481965/winter-songs-the-frozen-tale-of-lord-franklin
Clean out your room. Fill a box with toys and clothes you no longer use and donate these to a thrift store or other charity.
Make a thankfulness journal: https://www.schooltimesnippets.com/2013/10/thankful-journal-writing-prompt-free.html
Make gratitude pumpkins: https://thejoysofboys.com/gratitude-pumpkins/