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 penguins 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 classâitâs always a hit!
Kick things off with a KWL chart (What I Know, Want to Know, Learned). Itâs such a fun way to see what your little learners already know about penguins and what theyâre curious about. Plus, it keeps your teaching focused on their interestsâwin-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 betterâthey make learning so engaging and visual for little learners!
After the story, keep the learning going with a simple graphic organizer. Itâs perfect for jotting down what your students learned and sparking a fun discussion about their favorite penguin facts. Theyâll 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, âWhat would you do if you had a penguin as a pet?â Youâll 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 ârookery,â âblubber,â and âkrill.â Encourage your students to sprinkle these words into their writing during free timeâitâs a great way to build confidence and expand their penguin knowledge!
4. Explore Specific Penguin Types
Letâs dive into some penguin research! Over five days, you can guide your kiddos in exploring different penguin species, like Emperor and Rockhopper penguins. Theyâll love creating their own mini fact books to show off what theyâve learnedâitâs such a fun and hands-on way to study these amazing birds. Donât worry, weâve got you covered with everything youâll need in our penguin unit!
5. Celebrate Learning with Penguins 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 LOOKING backgrounds. Tip: Mix up the colors so you donât 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 or hallway display!
Looking for more penguin resources for your class?
