Pupils at Wallbrook Primary Academy travelled virtually to the polar regions during a live online lesson with wildlife presenter and explorer Steve Backshall. Delivered in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the session was streamed from the Cambridge headquarters of the British Antarctic Survey.
During the broadcast, Backshall shared stories from his own polar expeditions and answered questions from pupils across the country. Children learned about the geography of the Arctic and Antarctic, the wildlife that inhabit these regions, and why these distant environments are so important to the health of the planet.
The session also gave pupils insight into the life of scientists working in extreme polar conditions. They saw the specialist clothing and equipment needed for expeditions and met researchers in the British Antarctic Survey’s newly opened aquarium, where scientists study species that live in the icy Southern Ocean.
Backshall explained how animals survive in such harsh conditions and highlighted the pressures these fragile environments face from climate change, helping pupils understand the urgent need for conservation.
Lorna McGregor, Principal at Wallbrook Primary Academy, said: “What makes sessions like this so important and valuable is that they help children see the real-world relevance of what they’re learning. It encourages them to think about their place in the world and understand that even distant places like the Antarctic are connected to their everyday lives.”
The lesson was hosted on Children United’s TVCU channel, the world’s first global news platform created specifically for children. Supported by organisations including Sky, UNICEF, WWF and the Science Museum, TVCU aims to give children access to reliable news and information.
The platform provides free access for schools and families to daily news updates, explainer films, BAFTA-winning documentaries, and content made by young reporters, alongside material developed with partner organisations.
Children United was founded by Fresh Start Media, a multi-award-winning production company that produces programmes for broadcasters including the BBC, ITV and Sky.
