In the heroic age of Antarctic exploration in the early 20th Century, explorers would express themselves on a flag tied to their sledges. The designs sometimes included a motto that expressed their own philosophies and the colours would perhaps signify their country of birth and their own artistic preferences. This sledging flag is one I have used in an exercise with teenage SEND classes I work with and it proved to be a really popular, successful and enjoyable task for the students.

It’s a great task for primary school children also and it allows them an opportunity to express themselves through colour, design and words.
The Tom Crean connection to this exercise, stems from his own sledging flag of the Irish Ensign, which he flew on his sledge during his first expedition to Antarctica in 1901 aboard RRS Discovery.