North Pole

https://www.wired.com/story/inside-all-female-trek-to-north-pole/

Eleven women from across Europe and the Middle East have become famous for trekking to the North Pole together. The women aged 28-50 are from Qatar, Sweden, Iceland, Omar, Russia, France, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Kuwait, Slovenia and UK.

The project, set up by Felicity Aston, had two aims: science and also to foster good relations between European and Arabian women. Ida Olssen from Sweden said even before they even started she'd gained a new understanding of why some women wear head coverings; "In my mind it always felt forced - that men forced the women to do it. But when the girls here talk about it, it's something they actually want to do; they're not forced to do it. That was completely new to me."

Ida also said she wanted to show women and girls that you didn't need to be a superhero to achieve a big objective. Some of the women had worked in the wilderness before, but some had never skied before.

The group trekked together through temperatures of -36 degrees pulling heavy sledges. Those who were accomplished skiers would go on ahead and then always waited for the others to catch up so the group stayed together.

Before this trip the records of female travellers to the North Pole were non existent. These women have changed that. The photo shows the group at the moment they reached the North Pole. The ice drifts so they were 90 degrees North for only a few minutes. The journey took eight days. Each held a flag for the photo.

What do you see in the photo
What is happening?
Where are they?
What do you think the story is?

explain the story

- why do you think until now there are only records of men travelling to the North Pole?
- why do you think Felicity Aston set up the expedition?
- why do you think Felicity chose to involve women from so many different backgrounds? What was she trying to show?
- How did Ida learn about women wearing head coverings? (she asked questions)
- Today in the UK, what is the best way to learn about different people and different cultures? (talk to people and ask questions)
- Why is the UK a great place to find out about different people? (because it is diverse)
- Some of the group were better skiers than others. Why didn't they ski faster to get to the North Pole first?
- Why did the explorers hold flags for the photo? What were they showing?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders? (If a child says it's not about No Outsiders because there are no men, say that's an interesting point- what do we think? Why did Felicity choose to just have women this time; what has happened in the past? What is she trying to show about women today? It is about No Outsiders because in the past women have been left out. Also because Felicity is making sure people from different countries work together. In future how can explorers make sure all expeditions are inclusive?)

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat