Hi there, teacher friends! Is learning about penguins a hit in your classroom? For me, teaching a unit on penguins is an easy way to keep little learners engaged! From learning cool penguin facts to creating the cutest art projects, kids can’t get enough! So, let’s harness some of that penguin magic with my favorite five activities are sure to bring your penguin unit to life in the classroom!
1. Set the Stage for Penguin Learning
Transform your classroom into a penguin wonderland! Gather penguin books, posters, and even stuffed animals to set the scene and get your students excited. You can even invite your kiddos to bring in their own penguin treasures from home to share with the class—it’s always a hit!
Kick things off with a KWL chart (What I Know, Want to Know, Learned). It’s such a fun way to see what your little learners already know about penguins and what they’re curious about. Plus, it keeps your teaching focused on their interests—win-win!
Here’s an example of how I set mine up:
2. Dive into Penguin Facts
Time for some penguin storytime! Grab your favorite penguin read-alouds and let your kiddos dive into the world of these amazing birds. If you have colorful fact sheets like the ones in our penguin unit, even better—they make learning so engaging and visual for little learners!
After the story, keep the learning going with a simple graphic organizer. It’s perfect for jotting down what your students learned and sparking a fun discussion about their favorite penguin facts. They’ll love sharing what stood out to them!
3. Integrate Writing and Vocabulary
Get your little writers thinking with some fun penguin prompts! Try quick questions like, “What would you do if you had a penguin as a pet?” You’ll be amazed at their creative (and often hilarious) ideas!
To take it a step further, introduce a penguin-themed word bank filled with fun new vocabulary like “rookery,” “blubber,” and “krill.” Encourage your students to sprinkle these words into their writing during free time—it’s a great way to build confidence and expand their penguin knowledge!
4. Explore Specific Penguin Types
Let’s dive into some penguin research! Over five days, you can guide your kiddos in exploring different penguin species, like Emperor and Rockhopper penguins. They’ll love creating their own mini fact books to show off what they’ve learned—it’s such a fun and hands-on way to study these amazing birds. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with everything you’ll need in our penguin unit!
5. Celebrate Learning with Penguin Art!
Wrap up all the penguin fun by celebrating with the most adorable penguin art project. Your kiddos will love bringing their learning to life in such a creative way!
How to Make These Cute Penguins
Materials: Blue tissue paper, construction paper (black, white, orange), glue, and scissors.
Step 1: Start by making icy backgrounds. Tip: Mix up the colors so you don’t have the same shade of blue all stuck in one corner of the page.
Step 2: Use construction paper to assemble penguins, reinforcing shape recognition and fine motor skills. Tip: Let them choose between making a round penguin or a square penguin. This way every penguin turns out different and original!
Step 3: Glue the penguins onto their icy backgrounds.
These make an adorable wintery classroom display!
Looking for more penguin resources for your class?
