An Arctic Adventure

Warm up with this PE lesson whilst also learning about the Arctic landscape!

Lesson steps

Mark out a safe space for the children to work in, and prepare for the warm up!

Present the What is the Arctic presentation to learn more about it.

Tell the children that they’re going to the Arctic!

What is the Arctic?

Learn more about what and whereabouts of the Arctic with this presentation!

Ask the children to listen to the Arctic music. Next, move around in and out of each other to the music. When the music pauses, stop and pack your imaginary backpack.

Think about items needed for the cold weather. Talk about what you packed and why.

Explain that the class has arrived at the FREEZING Arctic!

Ask the children what cold moves they can think of, on the move or on the spot. Think about big, small, standing up or on the floor movements.

Encourage children to watch others as well, together share ideas and copy others’ moves.

Tell the children it’s time to explore the Arctic terrain. Look at the Amazing Arctic images provided.

Refer to the lesson's key questions.

Amazing Arctic Images

A selection of amazing images from the Arctic!

Using dice, spin to see which shape the class should act out with their bodies.

Arctic Scenery Dice

Spin to see which arctic scenery the class should act out with their bodies.

Now, how will you move across the Arctic? Ask the children to crawl, jump, run on the spot to get across the Arctic.

Let's finish with a skill! Roll dice, ask the children if they can make an Arctic ice sculpture with that number of points in contact with the floor.

Different levels of difficulty:

Tricky: balance with a big base, more points of balance. Trickier: balance with smaller base, fewer points of balance. Trickiest: balance in a form of a shape. Remember to hold your balance with control and keep your tummy tight.

Learning outcomes

Recognise some environments that are different to the one in which they live.

Understanding the World

Revise and refine the fundamental movement skills they have already acquired: rolling, crawling, walking, jumping, running, hopping, skipping and climbing.

Physical Development

Questions

What words would you use to describe ice?

What clothes will you need for your Arctic trip?

What happens to your body when it gets cold?

What do you think the Arctic looks like?

How does the Arctic compare to where you live?

Vocabulary

Climate

Freezing

Ice cliff

Terrain

Tundra

Iceberg

Activity ideas

Arctic Hide and Seek!

Find all the Arctic animals. Can you make your own Arctic animal image? See if your friend can find them all.

Arctic Hide and Seek!

Hide and Seek time!! A super fun activity, find the hiding arctic animals... can you find them all??

Arctic Character Masks

Dress up like Arctic animals and continue the movements you have learned.

Arctic Masks

Wear your favourite Earth Cubs characters from the Arctic as masks!

Nigel’s Top 5 Coolest Animals!

Meet Nigel the Narwhal's friends, a cool bunch of Arctic animals!

Nigel's Top 5 Coolest Animals

Nigel the Narwhal takes you through their favourite animals from the Arctic!

Individual ice sculptures

Move in and out of each other and when you hear the command “Freeze!”, be creative and make some Arctic poses – you might be an ice boulder, an ice cliff or even a snowflake.Can you praise others for their ideas?

Create an ice scene!

This time when you hear the word “Freeze” work with a partner or in a 3 to make a connected ice scene.Can you take turns with your partner to share ideas?