Antarctica - no polar bears, lots of penguins

Antarctica was fascinating to study.  Our playlist is here and involves geography, magnetism at the poles, the Southern lights (or aurora australis), jobs at the research stations, dinosaurs, animals (penguins, seals, yeti crabs, jellyfish, whales, seals, orcas, birds), the history of Antarctica, how people live and survive at the research stations or when there as tourists, and more.  It's a big list.  Many of the Torchlight-recommended books are there as read alouds, plus a few more, and there's a bizarre but harmless (and enthralling) cartoon series called Edebits about a little girl whose parents are Antarctic researchers, which has her living at a research station.  I used it as dessert - watch this section of videos on geography or dressing for survival or whatnot, and then watch this 12 minute Edebits episode.  Keeping with my policy of trying to include shows that are made for/by each country's native population, I included some short films from the Annual Antarctic Film Festival, which is a friendly competition between the various research stations.  My favorite facts were discovering that there are jellyfish there and that there are no polar bears but plenty of penguins.  A plethora, perhaps.

Books we used include:

• Ice Wreck by Lucille Recht Penner.  This is a short chapter book with color illustrations about Shackleton's voyage.  The big bonus with this one is that it has a happy ending, so if you have a worrier, this is a great option.
• Lost in the Antarctic by Kevin Blake.  This one isn't a great option for a very sensitive child who will be worried about the fate of the various people discussed.  Not all of them survive, although there is no gore.  My guys liked it quite a bit.  It covers many, many people who have been lost in the snow and how they survived/were rescued.
• A Mother's Journey by Sandra Markel.  This is a sweet book, beautifully illustrated, that details a female penguin's life as she lays her egg, hunts for food, and finally returns safely to see her new chick.  We loved this one.  It is accurate but not heavily written, making it ideal for younger listeners.  It is a little long, so kids younger than six might find it hard to sit through, but you could break it into parts pretty easily.
• Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater.  This is a classic.  It isn't really set in Antarctica - much - but it's engaging and fun and about penguins.  It makes a wonderful read aloud.
• Penguins by Seymour Simon.  This is factual, long, and has gorgeous photos of a penguin's life.  If your learner prefers photos to drawings, this is a good choice.
• Penguin Chick by Betty Tatham.  Another book about the birth of a penguin.  This has lovely illustrations and is much shorter than A Mother's Journey or Penguins.  
• Shackleton's Journey by William Grill.  This is one of the most appealing books we tried.  The illustrations are fascinating and the story is well-told.  I was very impressed.  There is an activity book here as well, but I haven't seen it.
• Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester.  We loved this engaging, enticing book about a young girl who accompanies her boat captain father on his trip to resupply a research station in the Antarctic.  I highly recommend it.

For Older Kids:

• Endurance: Shackleton's Journey by Alfred Lancing.  I liked this book and found it well-written and fascinating.  S has been slower to warm to it.  I'm not sure if it's a hit yet.  

Other possible extensions:
Math - how to calculate Farenheit and Celcius, comparing the coldest known temperatures, survival math for less sensitive kids (how long could you survive outside with a coat/without a coat, in the water, etc.)
Movies - March of the Penguins (features some death, so watch with caution), Encounters at the End of the World (a huge favorite here), Penguins: Spy in the Huddle (the hands-down favorite.  It's a true story about robotic penguins who infiltrate penguin families and offer some astonishing and funny footage), Frozen Planet (involves some death, killing and eating of animals by animals, and some mating), Pingu (not even a little bit factual, but very entertaining claymation, with almost no words), Lost and Found (incredibly sweet story appropriate for almost everyone. Not factual but features a friendship between a penguin and a little boy.) .
Minecraft: Glaciers, volcanoes, pancake ice oceans with ships to sail on them