ANTARCTICA

Robert Falcon Scott ■The year is Far south, much of the Antarctic, including the South Pole itself, remains undiscovered. ■Not surprisingly, many great explorers dream of being the first to reach the South Pole. ■One of these is Robert Falcon Scott, a young, ambitious British explorer who has already led one expedition across the Antarctic Circle. ■He is dying to go back and claim the South Pole for himself, and the glory for his country.

■Scott starts to raise money to fund his trip. It's hard work - he reckons he needs about £40,000 (that's over £2 million today!). ■Then, success! The British government give him a grant large enough to make his second Antarctic expedition possible. Scott is delighted. ■His mission is to carry out scientific research, map uncharted regions, and most importantly, to discover the South Pole! ■Scott thinks the expedition will take two to three years. ■He sets about gathering equipment for his expedition

Antarctic Exploration ■You have been asked to go with Robert Scott. You are part of his crew of 65 people. ■What an honour….. ■Diary Entry Jan 1910 –Write down your feelings about being away for 2 to 3 years –Write down what a life changing experience it would be though –What preparations would you have to make?

The story unfolds ■On the 15th June 1910, the Terra Nova leaves England bound for the Antarctic. ■But when Scott and his team arrive, they find they are not alone.

■Across the Ross Ice Shelf, a rival team, led by the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, is setting up base camp. He also hopes to be first to the South Pole. ■Scott remains confident. At the beginning of November, he sets off from Ross Island.

Thinking time ■Diary Entry June 15 th 1910 –You have just started out –It has taken ages to get there –What are your feelings now? –What about the competition of Roald Amundsen? –Do you think your team will do it?

Sadly, it all ends in tragedy. ■ ■ ■1 st Nov 1911 – Really tough going. Motorised sledges have already broken down. The ponies they took couldn’t cope ■18 th Jan 1912 – Scot makes it to the pole….only to discover he has been beaten!....by 18 days by Roald Amundsen

A sad end ■Tired, fed up, unhappy and hungry they head back. Weather gets worse and food supply is running out ■12 th Feb 1912 a team member dies ■17 th Mar 1912 Captain Oates dies. He leaves the tent and walked out into a blizzard. Before he left he said “I am just going outside….I may be some time” ■29 th Mar Scott’s team die of exhaustion, cold and hunger. The bodies were found 9 months later.

Question to think about ■Why do you think Scott’s team lost ■Why do you think they died?

So what went wrong for Scott? How did Amundsen manage to get to the Pole first... and without loss of life? ■Well Amundsen had already been on several polar expeditions. He'd studied the ways of the Inuits (Eskimos). He knew about the problems facing an Antarctic expedition. ■Also, Amundsen's sole aim was to reach the South Pole first. Scott was slowed down by having to do scientific research.

Draw the table on a full page ScottAmundsen Aims of expedition Experience of a leader Sledges Equipment

Statements to use on your table ■Map uncharted land, carry out scientific research and discover the South Pole ■Research the South Pole first ■One previous Antarctic expedition ■Took scientific equipment and stopped to take readings ■Took only essential equipment necessary to reach the Pole ■Pulled by teams of dogs controlled by experienced handlers ■Motorised sledges broke down and the ponies could not cope ■Previous expedition to polar regions – studied Eskimos ways of survival.