Penguins Theme ~ submitted by Carol


Learning Outcomes

Kids will be able to describe three things about penguins.

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Penguin Facts
Penguins:
  • Do not fly, they hop, walk, or toboggan
  • Are expert divers and swimmers
  • Have thick layer of fat called blubber under skin
  • Do not build nests.
  • The female lays egg, males hold egg on the top of their feet, hunches down so skin covers and warms the egg.
  • Raise their chicks in colonies called rookeries
  • There may be thousands of penguins in one rookery
  • Are penguins birds?
    Yes, penguins are birds because they have feathers, lay eggs and have forelimbs modified as wings (but in this case used for swimming).

    Do penguins fly?
    No, penguins use their wings to propel themselves through water rather than air.

    Do penguins have feathers?
    Yes, like all other birds, penguins have feathers. The outer part of the feather is waterproof while the inner down section traps an insulating layer of air, keeping the penguin warm in the sometimes-freezing water.

    What do penguins eat?
    Fish

    Do penguins bite?
    Yes, penguins defend themselves and their nest sites with their beaks and wings.

    Do penguins have teeth?
    No. Penguins, like all other birds, do not have teeth.

    Do penguins have ears?
    Yes, penguin ears are in the same place as ours. The only difference is that they have no external ear (the fleshy bit that sticks out the side of your head) and that feathers cover the opening.

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    Books
    Tacky the Penguin
    Helen Lester

    Little Penguin's Tale
    Audrey Wood

    Antarctica
    Helen Cowcher

    Cinderella Penguin
    Janet Perlman

    Cuddly Dudley
    Jez Alborough

    The Penguin (Animal Closeups)
    Beatrice Fontanel

    Penguins (Animals of the Ocean)
    Judith Hodge

    Penguin Pete
    Marcus Pfister

    Penguin Pete's New Friends
    Marcus Pfister

    The Penguin In The Snow
    Allan, Douglas

    A Penguin Year
    Bonners, Susan

    Counting Penguins
    Howe, Caroline Walton

    The Penguins are Coming
    Penney, R.

    Little Penguin's Tale
    Wood, Audrey

    Antarctic Antics : A Book of Penguin Poems
    by Judy Sierra

    Mr. Popper's Penguins
    by Richard Atwater

    What's a Penguin Doing in a Place Like This?
    by Miriam Schlein

    The Puzzled Penguin
    by Keith Faulkner

    Plenty of Penguins
    by Turi MacCombie

    Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World
    by Margret Rey

    The Penguin Who Hated The Cold Because He Was All Dressed Up And Had No Place To Go!
    by Paris, Taylor

    ******
    Arts and Crafts
    Penguins
    Materials
    Rectangular and square pieces of construction paper. Scissors. Crayons.
    Introduction
    1. Review the sound and shape of the letter "P".
    2. Read aloud and discuss the information provided on the penguin.
    3. Make penguins from square and rectangular pieces of paper by cutting off the corners and rounding the edges.
    4. Each child tells you one thing about penguins. This characteristic is written on their penguin.
    Foot Print Penguins
    Materials: blue, black & orange construction paper, white paint, scissors, glue, q-tip, wiggle eyes
    Trace your shoe on the black construction paper and cut out. Glue onto the blue construction paper. paint a white tummy on the body. Add construction paper beak and flippers. Add wiggly eyes!

    Make a Penguin Finger Puppet
    Take empty film canisters and cut the lid in half. Glue the lid halves to each side to make wings. Cut an oval piece of white paper or fun foam for the belly. Add wiggle eyes and orange for a beak. You can also make a neat scene for the penguins. Take a blue piece of paper and paint a snow scene.

    Penguin Shape
    Cut out penguin shapes from black paper. Paint with Epsom Salts diluted in water. It makes the penguin look frosty.

    Paper Plate Penguin
    Materials needed for each penguin: 6" paper plate, 9" paper plate, black and orange construction paper, black crayon. Color the small paper plate black. Glue the two paper plates together to form the head and body. Cut and glue two orange circles for the eyes and three orange triangles for the feet and beak. Cut and glue two black ovals for the wings.

    Potato Print Penguin
    Take a potato and cut it long ways. Another potato cut it in half so you have a smaller size. You take black paint and place potato in paint and place on white paper. Take smaller potato and use white paint and put in the print of the black. You have a black print with the white tummy of the penguin. Add a beak and feet. Too cute!

    Toilet Paper Tube Penguin
    Materials needed: toilet paper tube, black construction paper, white construction paper, stapler, glue and google eyes
    From the black paper, cut a piece to fit around the tube and two wing shapes. From the white paper cut a rectangle to go two-thirds the height of the tube and round off the top edge, this is the penguin's "bib". To assemble, glue the paper around the tube, glue on the wings and the bib. Pinch the top of the tube right above the bib and staple on an angle to make the beak, glue the google eyes on to either side of the beak and you have a cute penguin that the children will love to make waddle.

    Penguin Welcome Mat
    Obtained light colored carpet samples from your local carpet stores. Paint the bottom of the children's feet black and print them twice on the carpet. When they are dry, add the white on the belly, the orange beak and feet, the eyes, the year 2001 in the bottom corner and the word WELCOME across the top. All this is done in fabric paint. Then treat this with Scotch Guard. It will be a gift that is adored by all.

    Penguin Costume
    Use a grocery bag and orange construction paper to turn into a penguin! Slit the front of the bag from top to bottom. Cut a neck hole in the bottom of the bag. Cut wing shaped flaps in the sides. Color the bag black and white to resemble a penguin. Form a cone from a triangular piece of orange construction paper. Staple it together and punch a hole in each side. Tie a 12 inch piece of string through each hole. Place the cone over your nose like a beak and tie the strings together at the back of your head. Now put on the bag and have a Penguin Parade!

    Paper Bag or Film Canister Puppets
    For the paper bag puppets you simply use a penguin pattern. For the film container puppet you need: 1 film container per child: black with a black lid, white felt circle cut to size for the film container wiggle eyes , orange craft foam (cut out feet and beak)
    Directions:
    I made these myself with the hot glue gun. First, cut the lid in half. Cut a circle or oval shape out of white felt to fit the front of the film container and hot glue it in place. The wiggle eyes are glued on the top (the hole of the container is down so the child place it on their fingers.) The beak (orange foam triangle) is glued under the eyes, and the feet on the bottom. The lid halves are glued on each side of the container to stick out slightly.

    Foot Print Penguin #2
    6" X 9" white and black construction paper, one of each per child
    Black and yellow markers
    Scissors
    Glue or stapler
    What to do:
    Trace the child's shoe on the white paper and have the child cut out, helping if necessary. This will be Penguin's body. Fold the black paper in half so it measures 6 X 4.5". Trace the child's hand with wrist on the fold. Cut out. these will be the wings. Glue or staple the black wings (folded lengthwise) around the penguins body on each side (kinda over the top of the head and down the sides). Draw eyes and beak with black and yellow markers. More to do: Glue the penguin on blue paper and use finger tips to print with white paint to create snow all around the penguin.

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    Songs and Fingerplays
    I'm a Little Penguin
    [tune: "I'm A Little Teapot"]
    I'm a little penguin.
    Look at me,
    Fishing and swimming
    In the deep blue sea.
    My wings are black
    And my tail is white.
    And I like sliding down the snow so bright!

    Peter Penguin
    [tune: "On Top of Old Smokey"]
    Meet Peter the Penguin.
    He munches on P's.
    If he eats the wrong food,
    It might make him sneeze.
    He likes popcorn and pizza
    And pineapple, too.
    What will you serve him
    If he eats with you?

    Little Penguin
    [tune: "I'm A Little Teapot"]
    I'm a little penguin back and white
    Short and wobbly, an adorable sight.
    I can't fly at all, but I love to swim
    So I waddle to the water and dive right in!!

    Penguin Parade
    Waddle, waddle, waddle
    From side to side
    Penguins go a-walking
    Slip, slip, slide, slide.

    With a funny jump
    The penguins dash
    Down to the water
    Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!

    Waddle from the water
    With a rock 'n roll
    Penguins go parading
    On a wintry stroll.

    All The Penguins
    [tune: "Clementine"]
    They are playing on an ice patch,
    They are jumping in the sea.
    All the penguins are together,
    Having fun so playfully!

    There are big ones, there are small ones,
    And then some are in between.
    But they're having fun together,
    Where the air is cold and clean.

    When they walk they kind of waddle,
    Back and forth from side to side,
    Playing in the cold Antarctic,
    They would never come inside!

    It is in that cold Antarctic,
    That's the land that they call home.
    Full of snow and icy water,
    From that cold they will not roam!

    Five Little Penguins
    Five little penguins sitting on the ice.
    The first one said, "Oh I feel nice."
    The second one said, "I see a little chick!"
    The third one said, "Oh, hide it quick."
    The fourth one said, "Let's go for a swim."
    The fifth one said, "Now we all dive in."
    So they dove in the water, and they swam all about.
    Then the five little penguins, all jumped out.

    The Penguin
    I am a bird you know quite well,
    All dressed in black and white.
    And even though I do have wings
    They're not designed for flight.

    I waddle, waddle, waddle,
    On my funny little feet.
    Across the icy snow I go
    To find a fishy treat!

    Have You Ever Seen a Penguin
    (tune: Have you Ever Seen a Lassie)
    Have you ever seen a penguin? a penguin? a penguin?
    Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that?
    Swim this way and that way and this way and that way?
    Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that?
    (make swimming motions with arms)
    Repeat, substitute "swim" with "slide" (make sliding motions with arms), "waddle" (take tiny steps, swinging body from side to side)and "dress" (boys bow and girls curtsy)

    Percy Penguin
    Percy Penguin looks so proper,
    In his long black tails,
    Stiff white shirt, and neatly grommed,
    Correct in all details.
    He's so important, chest way out,
    As he pitters patters by,
    But here is something very funny--
    He forgot his TIE!

    A Penguin
    (Children are standing)
    A penguin when he goes somewhere,
    (waddle from side to side)
    Will walk or swim; here's why:
    (waddle first, then "swim")
    Although he has two bird-like wings,
    (hold up two fingers)
    He simply cannot fly!
    (tuck hands into armpits and "flap" wings)

    In Praise of Penguins
    These funny birds in fancy clothes
    may waddle in the snow,
    but when they reach the icy sea
    Just watch how fast they go!
    Their song sounds like a donkey's bray,
    they cannot soar or fly,
    yet penguins manage very well,
    and let me tell you why.
    Their feathers keep out water,
    their blubber keeps out cold,
    their wings make perfect paddles
    because they do not fold!
    Their tales are good for steering,
    they brake with both their feet-
    So tell me now, from all you've heard...
    Aren't penguins NEAT?

    Penguin Thoughts
    Have you ever seen penguins in picture books?
    I always smile when I see their looks.
    They look like men in their fancy suits,
    All black and white from head to boots.
    I often wonder when it snows,
    Do they freeze their little penguin toes?
    Do they shiver and shake in their land of ice?
    Sitting on icebergs CAN'T BE NICE!

    Six Little Penguins
    Their suits are black and their vests are white.
    They waddle to the left and they waddle to the right.
    They stand on the ice and they look very neat,
    As they waddle along on their little flat feet.
    Six little penguins off an iceberg did dive,
    One bumped his beak, then there were five.
    Five little penguins swam the ocean floor,
    One saw a whale, then there were four.
    Four little penguins spun around, whee-ee!
    One spun off, then there were three!
    Three little penguins, with nothing to do,
    One went fishing, then there were two.
    Two little penguins, having lots of fun,
    One fell off, then there was one.
    One little penguin, when the day was done,
    Went home to sleep, then there were none.

    I Know A Little Penguin
    (Tune: "I'm a LittleTeapot")
    I know a little penguin
    Who sat on some blocks,
    He swam in the ocean
    And he climbed on some rocks!
    He snapped at a seagull,
    He snapped at a seal,
    He snapped at a fish,
    Oh, what a meal!

    Penguin Song
    Tune: The Ants Go Marching
    Penguins waddle all day long, Hurrah, Hurrah!
    Penguins waddle all day long, Hurrah, Hurrah!
    They only stop to take a swim and when they're done, they waddle again.
    The penguins waddle around, around and round.

    Three Little Penguins
    Three little penguins
    Dressed in black
    Waddle, waddle forward
    Waddle right back
    They stand on the ice and they look so neat
    As they waddle along on their little flat feet

    Peter, Peter, Penguin
    Peter, Peter Penguin, marching by,
    Toes turned out and head held high (Stand very tall with legs together and toes pointing out)
    A long black coat (Sketch coat down back)
    And a clean white vest (Pretend to hold edges of vest in hands)
    Peter, Peter Penguin, you're the best! (Waddle like a penguin)

    ******
    Large and Small Motor Skills
    Penguin Waddle Relay
    Divide the group into 2 teams. Place a rubber ball between the knees of the first two people in line and have them waddle like penguins to give the ball to their teammates behind the opposite line. The teammates then carry the balls back to the starting line and waddling continues until everyone has had a turn. Penguin Shuffle Races
    With penguins, it is the dad's job to keep the unhatched egg from rolling off the rocky cliffs where the birds nest. For weeks, he carries the egg on top of his feet. Here’s an amusing indoor race that challenges kids to test their balancing skills, penguin style. Each child needs a beanbag or Hacky Sack-style foot bag to serve as an egg. Contestants stand side by side with their "eggs" on top of their feet. When the race begins, players try to shuffle across the room without dropping their eggs. The first one to succeed wins.

    Crossing the Ice Relay
    Each team has two pieces of paper slightly larger that a player's foot. The papers represent ice floes. Using only their feet, players must push the papers forward to the goal. If a player steps onto the floor instead of the paper, he has fallen into the water and must start again.

    Creative Movement
    Ask the children to waddle, jump, slip, slide and dive like penguins. Be sure to allow plenty of space for them to move around freely and safely. (You may want to use a large floor mat for protection.)

    Polar Bear, Polar Bear, Penguin!
    Play Polar Bear, Polar Bear, Penguin using the format of Duck, Duck, Goose. When the last person is tapped with the word penguin, the 2 involved students must waddle around the circle like a penguin as fast as they can, and try to reach the empty spot first.

    Pass The Penguin
    Play music and pass a paper or plastic toy penguin around. When the music stop, that child can walk around the center of the circle waddling like a penguin.

    Use playdough to model a penguin family.
    Play Dough Recipe
    1 Cup flour
    1 Cup water (with 2 Tbsp food coloring mixed in)
    1ˇ4 Cup salt
    2 Tbsp cream of tarter (found in the spice section)
    1 Tbsp baby oil (this smells great and won't go rancid)
    Mix together in sauce pan. Cook over med. heat until it all clumps together. Put on cutting board to cool. Knead when cool to touch. Keep in ziploc bag.

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    Science & Math
    1. You'll need: large pan of frozen water, small items from classroom such as blocks, crayon, and pencil. Talk about where penguins live and the type of climate they need to survive. Show children the pan filled with ice. Let them try to move the blocks and other small items around on the ice so they can feel the cold the penguins need to survive. Slide the items across the ice then across the desk, carpet and other surfaces. Compare the results.
    2. Explain to the children that a penguin has a special gland in its body that produces an oil which makes the penguins feathers waxy. The waxy feathers protect the penguin from extreme cold and icy waters in the South Pole. In order to show the children how the water repels off of the waxy feathers, draw a picture of a penguin. Have the children color the feathers of the penguin with black and white crayons. Pour a cup of water all over the picture. The water will soak the paper however will roll off the crayon. This science experiment will show the children that the water will roll off of the penguin because of the waxy feathers. The children loved this experiment.

    Number Recognition, Counting
    You'll need: black ink pad, crayons, white paper. Fold the paper into six sections. Write a number from one to six in each section. Ask the children to put as many thumb prints in each section as the number asks for. Use crayons to turn the thumb print into a penguin. Now practice counting aloud.

    Penguin Central
    On white construction paper, photocopy a penguin. Color, laminate, and cut out each penguin. Label each penguin belly with a number. Provide fish-shaped crackers for students to use in this center. To use the center, a student places the penguin cards face up and places the corresponding number of fish shaped crackers on each penguin belly.

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    Sensory Table, Centers, Games
    Penguin Habitat
    Buy some little rubber penguins at a nature store and fill a 9x13 pan with snow and build a penguin habitat. Build nests out of rocks (pebbles). The really do make their nests out of rocks.

    Penguin Central
    On white construction paper, photocopy a penguin. Color, laminate, and cut out each penguin. Label each penguin belly with a number. Provide fish-shaped crackers for students to use in this center. To use the center, a student places the penguin cards face up and places the corresponding number of fish shaped crackers on each penguin belly.

    Match the Bow Tie
    Copy five penguin designs. Make each penguin have different color shoes. Next make 5 bow ties that are the same color as the shoes. Let the kids match the bow ties with the penguin it belongs to.

    Penguin Bowling or Ice Bowling
    Use a 2-liter bottle. Wrap it with black construction paper. On the front of the bottle make a body and head out of white construction paper. Draw eyes on the head with a black marker. Use orange construction paper triangles to make the beak. Use orange construction paper to make the feet and glue at the bottom of the bottle. Cut the toe out of bright colored sock. Put the sock on the top of the bottle using a rubber band to hold it in place. From the toe to the neck of the bottle cut strips in the sock. Turn the strips down and you have its hat. Use soft balls to roll and try to knock the penguin down. (You can pretend they are snowballs.)

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    Recipes
    Penguin Cookies from Kids in the Kitchen, Mailbox magazine
    Ingredients:
    1 chocolate sandwich cookie per child
    1 chocolate kiss per child
    Utensils and Supplies:
    napkins
    Directions:
    Have students wash their hands. Give each child a napkin, cookie, and chocolate kiss. They twist the top off of their cookie and carefully break it in half. They place the two pieces on top of the bottom half with the icing side up and spread a little out for wings. Then they place the chocolate kiss at the top for the penguins head.

    Marshmallow Penguins
    3 large marshmallows for each bird. Cut two black wings and feet from constructions paper. Cake decoration balls used for eyes. Straight pretzel for beak. Lick marshmallow and place on feet (should stick). Lick and stick the 3 marshmallows in line. Lick and place on wings. Poke in pretzel for beak and shot (balls) for eyes. Children can eat their penguin.


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