1. Antarctica- A few Facts

2. Antarctica is the world’s highest, driest, coldest and windiest continent!
Antarctica has no native population but scientists and support staff from 28 countries live and work there.
Antarctica’s vast ice sheet is actually on the move. Due to gravity and the ability of the ice to 'flow', it creeps towards the coasts at an average rate of ten metres per year.

3. There really is a pole at the South Pole
There really is a pole at the South Pole. It moves with the ice at a rate of ten metres per year. Each summer it has to be put back to the exact location of the geographic South Pole.
Hungry killer whales have been known to ram their body into an iceberg in order to knock a penguin into the water and have him or her for lunch!
Antarctic cod have a special 'anti-freeze' protein in their blood that stops them freezing up completely!

4. Tom Crean

5. Early Life
Tom Crean was born on a remote hillside farm near the village of Annascaul on the Dingle Peninsula on July 20th 1877
He was one of 10 children
He attended the local Roman Catholic School but left at the age of 12 to help on the family farm
At the age of 15, he ran away from home after an argument with his father and headed for cork where he enlisted in the Royal Navy

6. For the next eight years, he travelled the world as a Royal Navy sailor.
He was transferred from ship to ship and went from being ranked as an ordinary seaman, to an able seaman, to a petty officer (second class).

7. Meeting Captain Scott
In Dec 1901 at the age of 23 while in New Zealand he had a chance encounter with Robert Falcon Scott, a Royal Navy officer and commander of a major Polar expedition.
He came to learn that Scott was a sailor short as one of his men had ran into some trouble and fled.
He volunteered to take the place of this man on Captain Scott’s Antarctic Exploration Ship ‘Discovery’ and was accepted.
While on board he met Ernest Shackleton, who would go on to figure greatly in Crean's life in later years

8. Crean’s First Antarctic Expedition
In Feb 1902, the Antarctic expedition was made
This was Crean's first experience of the harsh conditions of Antarctica. 
At first he struggled with the icy conditions but before long he found his feet and took part in some of man's very first journeys into the continent
‘Discovery’ returned from it’s Antarctic expedition in Feb 1904 and Crean returned to his duties at the naval base
Crean had caught Captain Scott's attention with his attitude and work ethic on the ’Discovery’ Expedition and it was requested that Crean join him for a Second expedition

9. Quiz Time What year was Tom Crean born?
How many children were in his family altogether?
What age did he run away from home?
What age was he when he met Captain Scott?
What was the name of Scott’s ship?
What have killer whales been known to do to get food?