You’re off to Antarctica on an expedition to study penguins! How many different species can you identify?

• 1.

  Research the various species of penguins. Learn about their size, shape, recognizable characteristics, and habitats. How many species of penguins can you identify? Where are their natural habitats? This accordion-folded display will give you, and penguins, an opportunity to strut your stuff!

• 2.

  Cut a long, narrow piece of poster board with Crayola® Scissors. With Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils and a ruler, divide the strip into several identical boxes. Make two sections for each kind of penguin.

• 3.

  In every other box, draw a picture of a different species of penguin. Using Crayola Twistables, color in the penguins. Highlight each one’s unique characteristics.

• 4.

  Write the names and descriptions of penguins in the boxes next to them. Fold your strip back and forth along the lines to display your Penguin Parade.

Standards

• LA: Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
• LA: Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
• LA: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade level topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
• MATH: Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories.
• SCI: Observe and compare the many kinds of living things that are found in different areas.
• SCI: Analyze a representation of a particular habitat showing the locations and shapes of both land and water features of that habitat and communicate how the land and water support animals and plants.
• SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.
• VA: Use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.
• VA: Use visual structures of art to communicate ideas.

Adaptations

• Possible classroom resources include: Penguins by Liz Pichon; National Geographic Readers: Penguins! by Anne Schreiber; Penguin Chick by Betty Tatham; Penguins: Smithsonian by Seymour Simon; Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems by Judy Sierra
• Students work in teams of two or small groups the investigate penguin species and natural habitats. Students prepare life-size displays of each. Include in the display data on the species.
• Penguins are adorable creatures. Encourage students working in a small groups to collaborate in writing a story of a family of penguins on an adventure. If possible, word process the story and illustrate all significant scenes using Crayola Colored Pencils. Students prepare to present the story to classmates.
• Organize a field trip to a local zoo that has a penguin exhibit. Prior to the trip, students brainstorm questions that they will seek answers to while on the trip. After the visit, students post learning to a class blog.