our history
Polarskolen was founded in 2014 by polar adventurer, Gregers Gjersøe. In 2017, Gregers changed the school into a non-profit association. The association is now run by an unpaid board of nine members and was established to increase knowledge among Danish school students and the Danish public about Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Arctic.
The board believes that it is important to teach about today's Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Arctic. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are modern societies with many of the same facilities as in Danish cities. It is important that young people in Denmark gain more knowledge about Greenlanders and Faroese and their culture in order to avoid prejudices and stereotypical attitudes. Polarskolen produces free teaching materials for primary, secondary schools and highschool, financed through foundations and business support. With support from the Ministry of Education's distribution pool, the Polarskolen is also behind the textbook, Denmark and Greenland in the new Arctic. Here facts meet the personal story, and the reader is taken on a virtual expedition through Greenland and the Arctic. Throughout the book's twelve chapters, the reader is presented with lots of knowledge, pictures and maps. The pdf version with questions is free of charge and easy to work with via smart board, computer or iPad. Polarskolen also offers teacher guidance, teaching, lectures and activity days, where students are taken on an exciting expedition to the Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Arctic. It is Polarskolens mission to produce exciting and always free teaching materials for the primary school's three stages, for the test after 9th grade and for high school. Polarskolens materials must provide students and other interested with experiences, the materials must be challenging and then they must be easy to use. It has to be easy "Plug and play" and then you're up and running. Polarskolens materials must always be able to stand alone and be used without the Polarskolen, but Polarskolens instructors are always just around the corner and ready to step in with kickstart, teaching, lectures and activity days.
guiding questions
In addition to a robust cultural and historical education, Polarskolen works to encourage students to think critically about the major problems and challenges that the Arctic faces due to an ever-changing climate. These questions include:
- All of Arctic nature is under renewed pressure from climate change and increased human pressure because oil, gas and minerals have become more accessible than before. But what are the consequences of melting the sea ice and the inland ice for Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the Arctic?
- Due to climate change, Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland face major challenges. The national community is challenged and Denmark's historical role in the Arctic is under review. How will Denmark relate to Greenland and the Faroe Islands becoming more and more independent? Why do Denmark and Greenland jointly claim the very North Pole?
more information
Download a short PDF file with more information about the history of Polarskolen and the projects we do: