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🏁 The Race to the South Pole

In 1911 two brave teams raced to be first to the South Pole. Follow Amundsen and Scott across the ice and see how their choices decided the outcome.

lessons

~15 min

to learn

🔬 Science

subject

Ages 6–12

level

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What you’ll learn

Two Teams, One GoalIdentify Amundsen and Scott and understand the goal and time of the race to the South Pole.In 1911, two teams raced to be first to reach the South Pole. Roald Amundsen led the team from Norway, and Robert Falcon Scott led the team from Britain. Both were brave explorers crossing the freezing heart of Antarctica, each determined to get there first.
Different ChoicesCompare the different travel choices of Amundsen and Scott, including dogs, skis, and depots.Amundsen and Scott made very different choices. Amundsen used strong sled dogs, was an expert skier, and laid many well-marked food depots. Scott relied on ponies and men to haul the sleds, and they struggled in the snow. These choices would decide who won the race.
Reaching the PoleRecount that Amundsen reached the Pole first on 14 Dec 1911 and that Scott's party arrived later and died returning.Amundsen reached the South Pole first, on 14 December 1911, and returned safely. About five weeks later, in January 1912, Scott's team arrived to find Amundsen's flag already there, and sadly they did not survive the journey back. Both teams are remembered as brave explorers of Antarctica.

Questions this course answers

Who led the team from Norway in the race to the South Pole?

Roald Amundsen led the Norwegian team to the South Pole.

Why did Amundsen's team travel faster across the ice?

Amundsen used sled dogs and skied well, while Scott's ponies struggled in the snow.

What is a depot on a polar journey?

A depot is a hidden store of food left along the route to pick up on the way.

When did Amundsen's team reach the South Pole?

Amundsen's team reached the South Pole on 14 December 1911, the first people ever to do so.

What did Scott's team find when they reached the Pole?

About five weeks after Amundsen, Scott found the Norwegian tent and flag already at the Pole.

What did both teams want to be the first to do?

Both teams raced to be the first people ever to reach the South Pole.

Grounded in trusted sources

Britannica Kids
British Antarctic Survey
National Geographic

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

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