To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, try the following:
Draw a Story: Stepping from Pictures to Writing
In this activity, students draw a series of pictures that tell a simple, sequential story. They “read” their story to others, transcribe their oral story into writing, and create an accordion book with drawings on the front side and writing on the back. This activity is useful in helping students work with sequential content that includes character action, a problem and a solution. It introduces them to the writing process in a way that is personal and creative, and which supports the transition from oral to written storytelling. This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 4, 5, 6, 12.

From Fact to Fiction: Drawing and Writing Stories
Getting children to use their imaginations when writing a story can sometimes be difficult. Drawing, however, can create a bridge between the ideas in a child’s head and the blank piece of paper on the desk. In this lesson, students use factual information gathered from the Internet as the basis for creating a nonfiction story. Story elements, including setting, characters, problem, solution, and endings, are then used as a structure for assembling students’ ideas into a story. While the lesson uses frogs and toads as the factual content, it can easily be modified to include the Arctic and Antarctica. This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12.

Expedition to the Poles (Grades 3-5)
Students will pretend they have just returned from a year in the Arctic or Antarctic. They will look at web sites about these regions and expeditions to them, and they will create posters illustrating their experiences. Students will conclude by writing paragraphs explaining what it would be like to visit the polar region that they did not focus on in this lesson. Use the feature story, virtual bookshelf, and downloadable informational articles for student reading and research. Students can use a graphic organizer, such as this table, to record information. This lesson meets the National Geography Standards: Four and Five and the National Science Education Standards: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives content standard for grades K-4 and 5-8.

To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, try the following:
Exploring Compare and Contrast Structure in Expository Texts
This lesson focuses on identifying and analyzing the compare and contrast text structure within expository texts. First, students are introduced to the terms compare and contrast and asked to find similarities and differences between two common items. Next, students work in small groups to identify texts that are comparing and contrasting information. Students are then introduced to the Venn diagram as a tool that demonstrates similarities and differences and aids in learning new material. This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 1, 3, 6, 12.

What Do People Know About the Arctic and Antarctic? (designed for grades 6-8, use with modifications)
It’s common to confuse characteristics of the Arctic and Antarctic, and many people have never learned the differences between these two regions. In this lesson, students will research the landscapes, climates, and animal life of the polar regions. They will then interview people to find out what they think and know about the regions. They will conclude by writing paragraphs explaining why it’s important to know about the polar regions and detailing the differences between the two regions. Use the feature story, virtual bookshelf, and downloadable informational articles for student reading and research. A graphic organizer, such as this table, helps students organize information. This lesson meets the National Geography Standards: Four and Five and the National Science Education Standards: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives content standard for grades K-4 and 5-8.

To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, try the following:
Exploring Compare and Contrast Structure in Expository Texts
This lesson focuses on identifying and analyzing the compare and contrast text structure within expository texts. First, students are introduced to the terms compare and contrast and asked to find similarities and differences between two common items. Next, students work in small groups to identify texts that are comparing and contrasting information. Students are then introduced to the Venn diagram as a tool that demonstrates similarities and differences and aids in learning new material. This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 1, 3, 6, 12.

Teaching the Compare and Contrast Essay Through Modeling
Together, students and teacher create the first half of a draft of a comparison and contrast essay. During the modeling, students observe what writers do when revising a draft as they reread and write. They will begin to explore the techniques that writers use, such as rearranging or clarifying words or sentences. Students then apply the techniques by continuing the draft independently. This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 3, 4, 5, 6.

The Arctic and Antarctic Circles (Grades K-5)
Explore the ends of the Earth – the Poles – to compare and contrast each region. This activity can be used in conjunction with other Xpeditions lessons, or as an at-home activity. This lesson meets the National Geography Standards: Four and Five and the National Science Education Standards: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives content standard for grades K-4 and 5-8.

To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, try the following:
Polar Geography: Comparing the Arctic, Antarctica, and My Hometown
Creating a graphic organizer, such as a chart, is a way to support students in identifying similarities and differences. Students can use a chart like this to record information from text, web sites, and webcams. This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 3, 7, 12.