Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Grey, and I'm so excited that you've decided to join me to learn geography today.

Today's lesson is in our unit of ice and glaciers, how are cold places affected by a warming planet? And today's lesson title is Protecting Antarctica.

By the end of the lesson, you'll be able to explain how Antarctica is protected.

There are some key words that we'll come across in today's lesson.

They are Antarctic Treaty, Global Commons, and Environmental Protection.

The Antarctic Treaty is an international agreement to protect Antarctica.

The global commons is resources or areas that belong to all humanity and environmental protection are measures taken to preserve natural ecosystems systems. Today's lesson on protecting Antarctica is split into two learning cycles.

The first, what is the Antarctic treaty and the second, how is Antarctica protected? So let's have a look at that first learning cycle.

What is the Antarctic treaty? The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 and came into force in 1961.

It is an international agreement that regulates human activity in Antarctica to ensure it remains a natural reserve devoted to peace and science.

So it's an agreement made by lots and lots of different countries that regulates human activity.

So there's rules on what human activity is allowed in Antarctica so that it remains a natural reserve and they devote Antarctica to peace and science.

Now the Antarctic treaty was originally signed by 12 countries, including the UK.

12 different countries signed it originally, but now it has 58 signatories.

So what a big difference.

Originally signed by 12 and now 58.

So our first check of the lesson then, when was the Antarctic treaty signed? Is it A, 1959, B, 1969, or C, 1979? So pause the video, write down your answer And then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? When was the Antarctic Treaty signed? 1959, 1969 or 1979? The answer is 1959.

Did you get that right? Well done.

So the Antarctic treaty applies to all land south of latitude 60 degrees south.

And you can see on this image here, this map where the Antarctic circle is and the purple area is 60 degrees south, which defines the area that's being protected by the treaty.

So everything within that circle is protected by the Antarctic treaty.

Our next check of the lesson then, label 60 degrees south latitude.

So have a little look at this map.

Where is 60 degrees south? Pause the video, Label it and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? There it is, did you get that right? Well done.

So the main goals of the Antarctic treaty are number one, to prevent military activity in Antarctica.

Number two, to promote scientific cooperation.

And number three, to safeguard the environment.

So they're the main goals of the Antarctic treaty, preventing military activity, promoting scientific cooperation, scientific safeguarding the environment in Antarctica.

Another check then, which of the following are goals of the Antarctic treaty? A, to prevent military activity, B, to promote military activity, C to prevent scientific research and D, to promote scientific research.

So which of those are goals of the Antarctic treaty? What do you think? Pause the video, write down your answer and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? Which of the following are goals of the Antarctic treaty? And the answers are, A, to prevent military activity and D, to promote scientific research.

Did you get those two? Well done.

Okay, so Sam now asks, why was the Antarctic treaty created? Why was it created, really, really good question there Sam.

Antarctica is a major scientific interest.

So the treaty was created in part to promote international scientific cooperation.

So because we've got a lot of interest in Antarctica and wanting to do a lot of science in Antarctica and research, one of the reasons it was created was to promote that scientific cooperation internationally so that everybody was working together for the interests of science.

Another reason that it was created was to avoid conflict.

You can see on this map here that several countries claimed parts of Antarctica and you can see the different countries that have claimed Antarctica and that can lead to potential conflict between those different countries who think that they own and claim parts of Antarctica.

So it was created to prevent those conflicts.

Sam asks, is research in Antarctica important? Another really good question there Sam.

Scientific research was seen as important because of Antarctica's effect on climate and ocean systems. So Antarctica has a big impact on climate and ocean systems. So scientific research is therefore very important.

The treaty ensures that no country owns Antarctica, and it promotes scientific exploration and cooperation.

So it wants countries to go there and to carry out scientific exploration, and it also encourages cooperation internationally for the interests of science because of the big impact that Antarctica has globally.

So our first task of the lesson then, we've got three questions for you to answer.

Question one, what is the Antarctic treaty? Question two, what are the three main goals of the Antarctic treaty? And question three, give one reason why the Antarctic treaty was created.

So three questions for you to answer there.

Have another read through these questions, have a think, pause the video, write down your answers to those questions and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? So what is the Antarctic treaty? It's an international agreement that regulates human activity in Antarctica to ensure it remains peaceful and environmentally protected.

Question two, what are the three main goals of the Antarctic treaty? They are to prevent military activity in Antarctica, to promote scientific cooperation and to Safeguard the environment.

Did you get the answers to those two questions? Let's have a look at question three.

Give one reason why the Antarctic treaty was created.

So you may have written, before the treaty, several countries claimed parts of Antarctica, leading to concerns about potential conflicts.

The Cold War increased concerns about possible military use of Antarctica.

Scientific research in Antarctica was seen as important and an agreement in insured peaceful cooperation.

How did you go on with those questions? Well done.

Okay, so we finished our first learning cycle in our lesson of protecting Antarctica.

The first one was what is the Antarctic treaty? We've looked at what the Antarctic treaty is.

We're now gonna move on to look at how is Antarctica protected.

The Antarctic treaty prevents mining, drilling, and nuclear testing.

Mining and drilling damage the environment.

So the Antarctic Treaty bans mining and drilling in Antarctica.

And the reason they've banned it, this is to protect the environment and prevent resource exploitation.

So it really protects the environment and prevents those resources being exploited.

Nuclear waste is hazardous to people and the environment.

So the Antarctic Treaty prevents nuclear testing in Antarctica.

This is to keep Antarctica free from hazardous waste.

So because nuclear waste is hazardous to people and to the environment, the Antarctic treaty completely bans any nuclear testing so that the environment of Antarctica is protected and free of any hazardous waste.

So Antarctica is known as a global commons.

That means it belongs to all of humanity and not individual nations.

As a global common, Antarctica must be protected from overuse and exploitation.

So it's got to be protected to make sure that the areas of Antarctica and resources in Antarctica aren't exploited and aren't overused.

Now Sofia is asked, are there any other areas of the world That are a global commons? Yeah there are other areas of the world that are a global commons that belong to all of humanity and not individual nations.

Can you think about what they might be? Well, the global commons include the high seas, the atmosphere and outer space.

Did you already know any of those? Another check of the lesson now then, true or false, Antarctica is owned by a group of countries.

Is that true or false? What do you think? So pause the video, write down your answer and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on there? True or false? Antarctica is owned by a group of countries.

That is false, but why is it false? Antarctica is one of the global commons, meaning it belongs to all of humanity and not individual nations.

Did you get that, well done.

Now, the environment of Antarctica is also protected and it is protected in numerous different ways.

Tourism, regulation, a waste disposal ban, wildlife protection and climate change monitoring.

So we're gonna have a look at these different ways that the environment of Antarctica is protected in a little bit more detail now.

So tourism is regulated.

There are limits on visitor numbers and how many people are allowed to go to Antarctica.

And there are very, very strict guidelines to prevent pollution caused by tourism.

Wildlife is also protected.

It's illegal to disturb or harm antarctic wildlife, including penguins and seals.

So you can see these different rules that have been brought in there as a way to protect the environment of Antarctica, regulating tourism and protecting wildlife.

Okay, a quick check then.

Why is tourism regulated in Antarctica? Is it A, to prevent ice melting? Is it B, to prevent pollution or is it C, to prevent high costs? What do you think? Pause the video, write down your answer and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? Why is tourism regulated in Antarctica? And the answer is B, to prevent pollution.

Did you get that right? Well done.

So let's have a little look at waste disposal.

So waste disposal is banned.

All waste must be removed from Antarctica.

So you can't leave any waste on Antarctica at all.

It must be removed.

And also climate change is monitored.

So scientists study ice cores and glacial changes to understand global climate patterns.

They use research stations like the one there in the image in Antarctica.

So nobody lives in Antarctica, people go to Antarctica, researchers and support staff go to Antarctica to carry out research and they study ice cores and changes in glaciers.

They can use that information to understand global climate patterns.

Another little check for us now then.

How is the environment in Antarctica protected? A, tourism regulation B, waste disposal ban, C, wildlife protection and D, climate change monitoring.

How is the environment in Antarctica protected? So pause the video, write down your answer and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? How is the environment in Antarctica protected? The answer is a waste disposal ban and climate change monitoring.

Well done.

Right, so we're onto our final task of the lesson now then.

So number one, decide if each statement is true or false.

Correct any false statements.

So these are statements, you have to decide if they're true or false and that any of them that you think are false, you need to correct them and add that into the corrections box.

So the Antarctic treaty bans mining in Antarctica.

The Antarctic treaty allows nuclear testing in Antarctica.

Antarctica is one of the global commons.

A global commons belongs to individual nations.

Antarctica is the only global commons in the world.

So decide if each of those are true or false and any that you say are false, add a correction to make them true.

Question two, explain each of the following ways that the environment of Antarctica is protected.

Tourism regulation, waste disposal ban, wildlife protection and climate change monitoring.

So explain each of these four ways that the environment of Antarctica is protected.

Okay, so two tasks there for you to complete.

So pause the video, write down your answer to these questions and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how have you got on then? So question one, decide if each statement is true or false and correct any false statements.

So the first one, the Antarctic treaty bans mining in Antarctica, that is true.

The Antarctic treaty allows nuclear testing in Antarctica.

That is false.

And so the correction would be, the Antarctic treaty prevents nuclear testing in Antarctica.

Antarctica is one of the global commons, that's true.

A global commons belongs to individual nations.

That's false.

So the correction would be, a global commons is an area that belongs to all of humanity.

Antarctica is the only global commons in the world, that's false.

So the correction would be, other global commons include the atmosphere and outer space.

Did you get those right? Did you get all of the corrections as well? Well done.

So question two was, explain each of the following ways that the environment of Antarctica is protected.

So tourism is regulated.

There are limits on visitor numbers and strict guidelines to prevent pollution.

Wildlife is protected, disturbing or harming Antarctic wildlife, including penguins and seals is illegal.

Waste disposal is banned.

All waste must be removed from Antarctica.

No rubbish can be left behind and climate change is monitored.

Scientists study ice cores and glacial changes to understand global climate patterns.

They use research stations in Antarctica.

Did you get all of those? Well done.

We're at the end of our lesson now on protecting Antarctica, let's have a little look at what we've learned today.

Antarctica is protected by the Antarctic Treaty, which ensures peace, scientific research and environmental protection.

The treaty prevents mining, drilling and nuclear testing, protecting Antarctica from exploitation.

Antarctica is part of the global commons, meaning it belongs to everyone and must be safeguarded for future generations.

Thank you for joining me for today's Geography lesson.

I've really enjoyed it and I hope you have too.

See you next time.