Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/17/2007 - 18:01
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Oden Antarctic Expedition 06

Allan, I just read your journal entry about visiting the hut where Shackleton and Scott visited. What a tremendous experience that must have been! Your words were so precise, I felt like I was walking there with you! This is just the kind of inspirational dialogue that motivates student interest. I will share this with my class tomorrow- we were already doing research on Shackelton's expedition. They were interested after hearing you talk about him in earlier journals. Is there any certain book about him you would recommend?

Thanks for sharing!

Lollie

Sat, 01/20/2007 - 18:05

Allan Miller

Thanks for sharing Lollie - it was really powerful to be in the same hut where these heros lived their adventures.  I have two favorite books - one is from National Geographic Press called The South Pole:  A Historical Reader edited by Anthony Brandt.  It has excerpts from journals from most of the famous expeditions south beginning with Capt. Cook all the way up to Hillary.  It strives to put the expeditions in their historical context which makes for an even greater understanding of the dynamics of each.  For Shackleton specifically (he has a nice excerpt in Brandt's book) the classic read is South - The Endurance Expedition.  It is written by Sir Ernest himself and gives the best narrative of this incredible experience.  My boys really like Trapped by the Ice - which is a children's book by Michael McCurdy about the voyage - very historically accurate with nice drawings - all on a 2nd or 3rd grade reading level.  Looking forward to seeing you at your school and SEEC in a couple weeks.   Take care and say hello to your class for me!