How can you tell they’ve got it: The Race to the South Pole?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Describe the Scott vs Amundsen race: Amundsen arrived 14 December 1911 using dog sleds; Scott arrived 34 days later and died on the return; Explain at least two reasons Amundsen succeeded: better planning, dog sleds, polar experience, and lighter supplies; Narrate the key events of the Endurance expedition: ship crushed, camps on ice, boat journey to South Georgia, all crew rescued. Or just try it together: Can your child tell you the detailed story of Amundsen and Scott's race to the South Pole — who won and why, what went wrong for Scott, and the incredible survival story of Shackleton's Endurance?

Science Polar Regions Ages 7–9

The Race to the South Pole

Your child can tell the race to the South Pole. Amundsen got there first, with dogs and careful planning. Scott arrived later and died on the way back.

In curriculum terms

Know the story of the race to the South Pole in detail — Norwegian Roald Amundsen and British Robert Falcon Scott both set out in 1911, Amundsen arrived first on 14 December using dog sleds and careful planning, Scott arrived 34 days later using man-hauled sledges and tragically died with his team on the return journey; also know about Ernest Shackleton's 1914 Endurance expedition where the ship was trapped and crushed by ice, and Shackleton's extraordinary boat journey to South Georgia to rescue his crew

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Describe the Scott vs Amundsen race: Amundsen arrived 14 December 1911 using dog sleds; Scott arrived 34 days later and died on the return
Explain at least two reasons Amundsen succeeded: better planning, dog sleds, polar experience, and lighter supplies
Narrate the key events of the Endurance expedition: ship crushed, camps on ice, boat journey to South Georgia, all crew rescued

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Try this together

Can your child tell you the detailed story of Amundsen and Scott's race to the South Pole — who won and why, what went wrong for Scott, and the incredible survival story of Shackleton's Endurance?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Brave Polar Explorersages 5–7Detailed exploration stories build on simple explorer introductions

Comparing Arctic & Antarcticages 7–9Understanding Arctic vs Antarctic geography enriches the exploration narrative

The Race to the South Polethis skill · ages 7–9

Unlocks

Polar Exploration Then & Nowages 9–11Must know historical exploration before comparing with modern science

Antarctic Treaty & Researchages 9–11Exploration history provides context for why the Treaty was needed

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

Cold-Weather Adaptationsages 7–9 Comparing Arctic & Antarcticages 7–9 Ice & States of Matterages 7–9 Inuit & Sami Peoplesages 7–9

All Polar Regions skills →