Scott of the Antarctic Lessons and Resources
Teaching Scott of the Antarctic at KS1 not only offers plenty of scope for developing a cross-curricular theme of Hot and Cold, Polar Explorers or Journeys, but it also is remarkably well-suited to a history-led study. Indeed it is one of our most popular and searched-for topics.
The full outstanding Ks1 lessons and shorter activities provided here show how pupils can develop a good historical understanding of narrative of Scott’s expedition to the Antarctic, with all its highs and lows, and also asks questions about the sources that could have been used to document his remarkable journey to the South Pole.
In terms of the government’s drive to instill characteristics of grit and resilience in KS1 pupils this provides a superb context.
Scott of the Antarctic KS1 Scheme of Work, Knowledge Organiser, Assessment & Quiz
| Scott of the Antarctic Key Questions | Historical focus |
|---|---|
| KQ1 – Who on earth is this famous person? | Significance and interpretation |
| KQ2 – How did Scott get to the South Pole and what happened then? | Chronology and sequencing |
| KQ2b – Scott of the Antarctic: From sequencing to Living graph Key question | Historical enquiry and understanding |
| KQ3 – Why did Scott risk his life going to the South Pole? | Causation and motivation |
| KQ4 – How do we know what happened on Scott’s last journey? A KS1 smart task | Historical evidence and enquiry |
| KQ5 – Why did he not get to the South Pole first? | Causation and motivation |
| KQ6 – How should Scott be remembered today? | Significance and interpretation |
Scott of the Antarctic end of unit quiz – KS1
You have now learned all about the brave explorer Captain Scott and his incredible journey to the coldest place on Earth – Antarctica! He and his team set out to…
Read MoreScott of the Antarctic – assessment task Y2
Focus concept: Causation The first task serves as a more gentle introduction to the idea of cause by looking at Scott’s personal motivation. By using the speech bubble device we…
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Scott of the Antarctic knowledge organiser – KS1
You are learning about Scott as he was one of Britain’s most famous explorers. Perhaps you are studying other explorers too such a Columbus or even the men who first…
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Teaching Scott of the Antarctic to Key Stage 1
Those of you who are thinking that this choice of famous person seems to presage a return to an Our Island Story approach to heroes and derring-do, couldn’t be further from…
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KS1 History Planner for Scott of the Antarctic topic
Medium term planning and planner for Scott of the Antarctic KS1 This topic has been designed for Term 3 of Y1 but would also suit use with older pupils. It…
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Scott of the Antarctic – KQ1 – Who on earth is this famous person?
This fun first lesson on Scott of the Antarctic using the slow reveal technique of an iconic image to enable pupils to work out the clues as to why the…
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Scott of the Antarctic – KQ2 – How did Scott get to the South Pole and what happened then?
You can use this task on Scott’s journey to the South Pole in a number of ways: as a simple sequencing task, which really challenges across the ability range or…
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Scott of the Antarctic – KQ2b -Scott of the Antarctic: From sequencing to Living graph Key question
This activity enabled children to see how certain events had a positive or a negative effect on Scott’s expedition to the South Pole. The children in Year One also needed…
Read MoreScott of the Antarctic – KQ3 – Why did Scott risk his life going to the South Pole?
The concept of an intrepid explorer may not be completely alien to even the youngest children as the media does focus a lot on individual record breaking, whether it be…
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Scott of the Antarctic – KQ4 – How do we know what happened on Scott’s last journey? A KS1 smart task
Pupils have already studied Scott’s last journey and have turned a series of events into first a living graph and then a board game to show the ‘ups and downs’…
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Scott of the Antarctic – KQ5 – Why did he not get to the South Pole first?
In this lesson in the teaching sequence on Scott as a famous person, or as part of a more integrated topic on Cold lands, pupils have to solve a history…
Read MoreScott of the Antarctic – KQ6 – How should Scott be remembered today?
Exciting finale to the topic sees pupils analysing different ways in which Scott has been commemorated in the past, coming up with their own 21st century ideas and then completing…
Read MoreWritten by Neil Thompson
All content on Keystage history is written and quality assured by Neil Thompson, a former history teacher, county history adviser and Ofsted inspector with more than 30 years’ experience in history education.