1. Introduce the lesson by asking students to point out the Poles on the map or globe, and discuss their relative geographies—is the geography similar or different? In what ways?
2. As background, review the story of the races to find the North and South Poles. Be sure students understand that these men were competing to see who could get to the Pole first. Remind students that this was at the turn of the 20th century, without all the communication devices, all-weather clothing, and other improvements we have today to make exploration safer.
3. Divide the class in half. From one half, create as many groups of three as possible, assigning students in each group to research the North Pole explorers (Peary, Henson, and Cook). From the other half, create as many groups of two as possible, assigning students in each group to research the South Pole explorers (Scott and Amundsen). Each student should be researching one explorer.
4. Each students should be sure to include the following in his or her research:
- A brief biography of the explorer
- His reason for trying to reach the Pole
- The forms of transportation he used
- The supplies taken
- Obstacles faced during the journey
- How he overcame these obstacles
- His status at the end: was he considered a hero? Why or why not?
4. When the research is complete, re-group the students by explorer studied (e.g., all those who researched Admiral Peary become one group, Henson another group, etc.)
5. Each new group should now compare and pool their findings and prepare a poster or PowerPoint presentation for the rest of the class.
6. Each group should have the opportunity to present their findings to the class.
Bedesky, Baron. Peary and Henson: The Race to the North Pole. New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2006.
Henderson, Bruce. True North: Peary, Cook, and the Race to the Pole. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006.
Preston, Diana. A First Rate Tragedy: Robert Falcon Scott and the Race to the South Pole. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
Rees, Jasper. The Great Race: Recreating Scott and Amundsen’s Race to the South Pole. London: BBC Books, 2006.
Robert Peary: To the Top of the World
Follow the Footsteps of the Great Explorers: Robert Peary
Conquest of the North: Story of Com. Peary’s Life
Matthew Henson’s Accomplishments
Matthew Henson: Profile
Matthew Henson on Wikipedia
Matthew Henson, Arctic Explorer
Frederick A. Cook: A Short Biography
The Frederick A. Cook Society
Dr. Cook’s Infamous “Box Hoax”
Robert Falcon Scott
Captain Robert Falcon Scott
The Discovery Expedition
Roald Amundsen: First to the South Pole
Roald Amundsen: Polar Explorer
Roald Amundsen: Biography
The Great Explorers: Roald Amundsen
This lesson was adapted by Averil McClelland, Kent State University, from a DiscoverySchool lesson called Polar Expeditions.