1. Climate Change, the Arctic and Explorers
Today we’re talking about Explorers, the Arctic and climate change…. Don’t worry too much if there are any words you don’t understand, we’ll explain things as we go along
Wicked Weather Watch is a new charity that is talking to young people about climate change

2. True or False: This harms our planet TRUE!
There are around 1.5 billion cows in the world. Each cow gives off enough harmful methane gas in one day to fill 400 litre bottles – that’s a lot of bad gas going into the air!
BIG FACT:
The technical term for the passing wind of animals is ‘Enteric fermentation by-products’
True or false – show of hands
This methane gas is far more harmful to the planet than carbon dioxide, which is the gas given off by things like cars. To reduce harmful gases it would be better to get rid of cows than get rid of cars… But who wants to get rid of cows!

3. Their tusks can grow between 1.5m and 3.1m in length.
True or False:
The male narwhal has a straight tusk projecting from the front of their head that can grow to over 3m in length?
TRUE!
Their tusks can grow between 1.5m and 3.1m in length.
Narwhal – a species found only in the Arctic. It is often referred to as the ‘unicorn of the sea’.
True or false – show of hands

4. True or False:
In the 1950s, Arctic explorer Peter Freuchen formed a chisel out of his own frozen poo to free himself from an avalanche?
TRUE!
Peter Freuchen was one of the great Arctic explorers, celebrity adventurer, and author of the pre-World War II period.
True or false – show of hands
Definitions:
Chisel
Avalanche
toes

5. Explorers
Explorers are people who journey into the unknown and discover new places or things.
Sir Edmund Hilary was the first man to climb Mount Everest
Tim Peake is a well known British Astronaut who has recently returned from the international space station!
One of the most famous POLAR EXPLORERS was Roald Amundsen.
He was the first man to reach the South pole.
Assembly leader to ask: What comes to mind when you think of an explorer?
Dangerous, adventurous, brave, exciting, curious, perseverance
Do you know any famous explorers?
In fact he was a particularly famous explorer in his time, and a very well known author was named after him - Do any of you know who Roald Dahl is? Author of books such as Fantastic Mr Fox and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he was apparently named after Roald Amundsen!
NB Scott, Shackleton are 2 of the most well known polar explorers
In 1906 Amundsen also became the first person to cross the Northwest passage by boat – part of a voyage I want to talk to you about today

6. David Hempleman-Adams
Modern Day Explorers:
David has lots of world records, and was the first person to complete what is known as the ‘Explorers Grand Slam’ which is climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents and journeying fully to the North and South Poles.
Ben Edwards is just 14 years old!
David and Ben are about to head off on a very exciting adventure, which if successful will be record-breaking!!! And this is one of the things I want to talk to you about today.
David Hempleman-Adams
Ben Edwards

7. The Polar Ocean Challenge History in the making
Sign up to follow the expedition:
So, this summer, David is leading a team on something called the Polar Ocean Challenge, which is an attempt to make history by becoming the first ever British yacht to sail anticlockwise around the North Pole in one summer.
Ben is the youngest team member, and will be the youngest person ever to complete this journey! Ben will be blogging through the expedition, letting us know what he is packing, how he is preparing for the journey, what he will miss, any top tips for being an explorer and about what life is like for him in the Arctic

8. Northabout – getting ready for adventure!
If you all imagine about a boat heading out to the Arctic, I guess you will think of something big, and David’s boat looks really small right?!
It’s called Northabout and it’s only 15m long, that’s only about the length of 11 or 12 of you lying in a long line! And when you think about it 6 or 7 people will need to be living on that boat together for long periods of time.
They will take it in turns to sleep and keep watch, so usual waking up and sleeping routines will be all over the place, but they will be travelling so far north that the sun won’t really set for a large part of their journey so it would be daylight even when most of us are sleeping over here!
The boat needs to be able to travel fairly fast, they will be away for 4 whole months – from now until around Halloween at the end of October – but they will be travelling a VERY, very long way!! Have you heard of a run called a marathon? Well they will be travelling the same distance as more than 590 marathons!! The boat has sails but also a motor, and they will need to watch our for icebergs, polar bears and many other challenges along the way!

9. The protected propeller and steering / back of the boat.

10. Sleeping quarters
The kitchen

11. Re-fit completed!
Arctic ready

12. The Route 1st Leg: Bristol, UK to Murmansk, Russia
So, just to show you exactly how far they are travelling on a map. Great Britain is all the way down here, looking very small, and the trip will take them up past Norway and Russia, past Alaska, Canada and along the coast of Greenland, back to Bristol.

13. The Route 1st Leg: Bristol, UK to Murmansk, Russia
2nd Leg: Murmansk, Russia to
Point Barrow, Alaska
So, just to show you exactly how far they are travelling on a map. Great Britain is all the way down here, looking very small, and the trip will take them up past Norway and Russia, past Alaska, Canada and along the coast of Greenland, back to Bristol.

14. The Route 1st Leg: Bristol, UK to Murmansk, Russia
2nd Leg: Murmansk, Russia to
Point Barrow, Alaska
3rd Leg: Point Barrow, Alaska to Iqabit, Baffin Island Canada
So, just to show you exactly how far they are travelling on a map. Great Britain is all the way down here, looking very small, and the trip will take them up past Norway and Russia, past Alaska, Canada and along the coast of Greenland, back to Bristol.

15. The Route 1st Leg: Bristol, UK to Murmansk, Russia
2nd Leg: Murmansk, Russia to
Point Barrow, Alaska
3rd Leg: Point Barrow, Alaska to Iqabit, Baffin Island Canada
So, just to show you exactly how far they are travelling on a map. Great Britain is all the way down here, looking very small, and the trip will take them up past Norway and Russia, past Alaska, Canada and along the coast of Greenland, back to Bristol.
4th Leg: Iqabit, Baffin Island Canada to Bristol, UK

16. You shouldn’t be able to do this!
This record breaking attempt may be possible NOW only
because the northern ice cap is melting due to climate change.
This journey has never been achieved by a British yacht!
What’s the big deal?
Until recently there has been too much ice for a boat to get through and sailing around the Arctic Ocean in one go has been impossible.
This journey is treacherous, it covers some of the most unknown and challenging waters. To succeed the team will need to overcome daily challenges of sea ice, Arctic weather and even icebergs!

17. the long-term change in the Earth’s climate
Climate Change
the long-term change in the Earth’s climate
What does climate change mean to you?
When grown-ups talk about climate change is can seem like a difficult thing to understand, but it’s not. To give you a quick explanation climate change is the long-term change in the Earth’s climate, and when we’re talking about climate we mean the weather over a long period or big area. So it’s a slow process.
One of these big changes in climate is that our planet is warming up, which is something known as global warming.
You can ask your teachers to explain more about climate change and global warming to you, and you can look on the Wicked Weather Watch website which gives lots of information about these issues and the how it’s affecting our planet.
Assembly leader to ask: What do you think about when you think of Climate Change?
Show of hands; Images to support ideas/depict climate change

18. Why the Arctic? Climate change is happening faster in the Arctic
Why are we talking to you about the Arctic?
The temperature in the Arctic is increasing at twice the rate of any where else in the world.
This warming of the planet and especially the Arctic is causing ice at the north pole to melt and sea levels are rising.
Arctic animals, like polar bears, are losing their habitats – where they live – and it is harder for them to find food.
We are therefore using the Arctic as an example to highlight climate change, and following the Polar Ocean Challenge is a great way for us to get the latest information about the Arctic from people who have been there.
Climate change is happening faster in the Arctic
than most other places in the World

19. Climate change cool fact
The golden toad was the first species to go extinct because of climate change and habitat loss.
What are we doing about climate change? How are we raising awareness about the human impact on the environment?
Question leads into next slide
Check out for more cool facts about climate change

20. Polar Ocean Challenge Launch
The team set sail on Sunday 19 June at 4pm, leaving a rainy Bristol and heading for the icy Arctic, on an educational voyage to highlight the changes in the Arctic that are due to climate change – inspiring young people to get involved and be part of the conversation, thinking about how we can protect the future of the Arctic, how we are effected here in the UK and what small steps we can all take to help slow climate change down.
Here is the crew waving goodbye at the SS Great Britain Dock.

21. BEN – WWW Youth Ambassador
14 year old Ben heading off on the challenge

22. Leaving Bristol Harbour!

23.
What makes someone head out on an adventure?
What food will you eat?
Is there a toilet on the yacht?
What wildlife will you spot on the way?
Competition time - Winning entry will get a visit to their school from David Hempleman-Adams!
Follow the expedition online and get involved over the summer.
You will be able to follow David and Ben on their journey through the internet on your computers at school and home. Just go to the WWW homepage and follow the link
They will also send back to us some information on temperature and ice and about the people they meet on the way so that you can look at climate change in your lessons.
One of the really exciting things is that you will be able to submit questions to Ben and David for them to answer along the way.
The other thing I think is really exciting is that we have launched a summer competition – what 10 things would you take with you on an adventure and why – and the winning entry will have David Hempleman-Adams come to your school to talk about his trip!!