Tiny Ice: Bits From Antarctica Video Series

Jocelyn Argueta, Polar Trec

This video series highlights the travel, science, and life at the South Pole research station. In this 10-part series, topics are explained in 3-4 minute, digestible segments which include photos and videos from the narrator's trip, as well as anecdotes to help viewers get a personal perspective of Antarctica.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Good for introduction to a class lesson on Antarctica, extreme environmental conditions, and science careers. They are a great resource for educators to use to bring visuals and anecdotes to polar science. These videos can be incorporated into climate related curriculum by pairing with Antarctic related lessons or lessons related to how scientists make observations. These videos can be used in class to supplement existing curriculum or in after school, at home, remote, or informal learning environments.
These videos bring the process of science to life through the eyes of a middle school science teacher who was stationed in Antarctica for 5 months. The educator and narrator, Jocelyn Argueta, provides an engaging introduction to the experience of conducting fieldwork in Antarctica. The science discussed in the videos is not directly related to climate, but polar science as a whole is applicable in many ways and scientific processes are discussed. The video series discusses 10 separate topics, which are listed on the series home page. The resource reviewers especially appreciated the discussion of the different ways of defining the South Pole, and the complexities of waste management at the South Pole station. The astronomy research on neutrinos was also a noteworthy highlight. The videos show a highly relatable (and appealing) glimpse of doing science in a remote and exciting place. The videos can offer a gateway into polar research and easily be integrated into a climate curriculum. Comments from expert scientist: Scientific strengths: The resource gives accurate answers to a series frequently asked questions about what it entails do do scientific research in Antarctica. Suggestions: No concerns, as it mainly addresses logistical and geopgraphical aspects, and only touches on how certain measurements are taken, not on the measurements themselves or any science that is derived from them.
Students, especially female students, may find these videos inspiring and helpful in building awareness for STEM careers. The polar science field is one of the least diverse fields- having a BIPOC bi-lingual narrator discuss polar science and Antarctica is really important for progressing in that area. This video series is engaging, upbeat, and very informational. Each video could be watched as a standalone. Short assessment questions are included in the package, but the worksheets use mostly lower-level thinking skills. A [link https://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/icecube-and-the-askaryan-radio-array-2019 'supplementary journal'] from the educator's time in Antarctica contains engaging photos, maps, and blog posts. Note: The NGSS standards alignment presented with the video series indicate that the topic may be related, but does not provide a thorough exploration of that topic.