Tom Crean Lesson Ideas
I have a whole resource pack on Tom Crean on my blog for the senior end but not so much for the junior end. Here are some ideas I have used over the years when studying Antarctic exploration. I tend to cover this theme every January regardless of the class level I have!
Sample Lesson Objective:
Students will learn about the life and achievements of Tom Crean, with a focus on his expeditions to Antarctica.
English- Story
Begin by reading a short, age-appropriate story about Tom Crean, such as his role in Captain Scott’s and Ernest Shackleton’s expeditions. This could be a simple retelling in your own words, it doesn’t have to be a picture book.Highlight his key characteristics like bravery, resilience, and teamwork.
History:Timeline Activity:
Create a simple timeline of Tom Crean’s life, marking key events like his birth, joining the Royal Navy, and participating in the Antarctic expeditions. Have the students help place the events on the timeline.
Drama/ SPHE/ Discussion:
Ask the students what they think about Tom Crean’s actions. How did he show courage and teamwork? Why is he an important historical figure? Get the children to act out scenes from Crean’s life and expeditions.
English: Writing
Students can write a short diary entry from Tom Crean’s point of view on one of the expeditions, describing a challenging moment and how he overcame it.
SPHE/Teamwork Discussion:
Explain how Tom Crean had to work closely with others during his expeditions, especially during Shackleton’s Endurance expedition. Discuss the importance of teamwork in extreme conditions.Split the class into small groups and give each group a “survival situation” (e.g crossing a snowy landscape, building a shelter, finding food). The groups must decide as a team how to solve the problem.
Geography: Map Exploration:
Begin by showing students a map of the world. Focus on Antarctica and its extreme environment. Discuss why the continent is so cold and harsh.
English- Character Study:
Read an excerpt or tell a story about one of Tom Crean’s most heroic acts, such as when he saved his comrades by walking 56 miles to get help. Ask students to discuss what qualities Tom showed during this act.
Character Trait Activity:
Write the words “Courage,” “Perseverance,” and “Resilience” on the board. Ask the students to define each trait and give examples from their own lives or Tom Crean’s life where they demonstrated these traits.
Art:
Have students create a “Tom Crean Hero Poster,” which includes a drawing of Crean and adjectives that describe his personality. They can add quotes from his life or from the story you discussed.
Objective:
Students will learn about the wildlife in Antarctica and how Tom Crean’s expeditions intersected with the natural world.
Lesson Plan:
Animal Introduction:
Show pictures or videos of Antarctic wildlife such as penguins and seals. Discuss the animals that Tom Crean may have encountered during his journeys.
Science: Talk about the extreme weather conditions in Antarctica and how the animals there have adapted to survive. For example, penguins have thick feathers, and seals have blubber to keep warm.
Animal Research:
Assign each student or group an Antarctic animal. They can research their assigned animal and present a short report on how it survives in such a harsh environment, as well as any connection to Tom Crean’s expeditions.
History:
Class Discussion:
Discuss how Tom Crean is remembered today and why his legacy is important. How does his story inspire us?Have students create a piece of art representing Tom Crean’s journey. They can choose to draw or paint his famous walk for help, the ship Endurance, or an Antarctic scene. Ask students to write a few sentences or a short paragraph about what Tom Crean taught them. What does his story tell us about facing challenges in our own lives?
These are just some ideas, there’s so much you can do with this topic, the above doesn’t scrape the surface! There’s also loads of material and resources available online to help.
Happy teaching!
Valerie
My 50 page Antarctica/ Tom Crean resource for 4th-6th class is available here :https://www.muinteoirvalerie.com/product/focused-sese-antarctica-and-antarctic-explorers/