Hey there! Have you ever wondered what it’s like in the coldest places on Earth? Well, let’s take a fun journey to Antarctica, a place that’s chilly all year round, even in the summer!
Antarctica is located at the bottom of the Earth, at the South Pole. If you look at a map, you’ll see it’s surrounded by ocean and covered in white. That white color is mostly ice and snow, even during the summer months!
Antarctica is super cold for a couple of reasons. First, the Earth is round, and sunlight hits the middle of the Earth more directly, making it warmer there. But at the top and bottom, like in Antarctica, the sunlight is slanted and not as strong, so it’s colder.
Also, the Earth is tilted. This tilt means that for part of the year, each pole points away from the Sun. When the South Pole points away, it’s winter in Antarctica, and it gets even less sunlight, making it very cold and dark.
Antarctica is one of the coldest places on Earth! In the middle of Antarctica, temperatures can be around minus 51 degrees Celsius (or minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit) all year. In 1983, scientists recorded a temperature of minus 67 degrees Celsius (or minus 89 degrees Fahrenheit)!
Yes, it is! Even though it’s covered in ice, Antarctica is considered a desert because it doesn’t get much rain or snow. It’s actually drier than some hot, sandy deserts!
No one lives in Antarctica all year round, but scientists visit to study this amazing place. Many animals live in the chilly ocean waters around Antarctica, like elephant seals, leopard seals, crabs, fish, terns, and seagulls. Most of the world’s penguins, including the Emperor penguins, the biggest penguins on Earth, live there too!
Polar bears don’t live in Antarctica. They live near the North Pole, in the Arctic, which is on the opposite side of the Earth. They have thick fur and fat to keep them warm, so swimming through warm oceans to get to Antarctica would make them too hot. It’s best for them to stay in their Arctic home.
So, that’s a little bit about Antarctica, a fascinating and chilly place full of unique animals. Thanks for joining us on this adventure, and if you want to learn more, be sure to keep exploring with us!
Ice and Sunlight Experiment: Let’s explore why Antarctica is so cold! You will need a flashlight, a globe or a ball, and some ice cubes. Place the ice cubes on a plate. Shine the flashlight directly on the ice cubes and observe how much they melt. Then, tilt the flashlight at an angle and shine it on the ice cubes again. Notice the difference in how the ice melts. Discuss with an adult why the ice melts differently when the light is at an angle, just like how sunlight hits Antarctica.
Penguin Waddle Race: Penguins are amazing animals that live in Antarctica. Try waddling like a penguin! Place a small ball or stuffed toy between your knees and try to walk without dropping it. Have a race with your friends or family members to see who can waddle the fastest. Talk about how penguins move on ice and why their waddle helps them survive in the cold environment.
Weather Observation Journal: Start a weather journal for a week. Each day, write down the temperature and whether it’s sunny, cloudy, or rainy. Compare your weather to Antarctica’s weather. Discuss how different your weather is from Antarctica and why it might be easier or harder to live in such a cold place. Think about what animals and people need to survive in extreme cold.
