Penguin Parade

1. Organize a variety of appropriate resources for student groups to use when researching the various species of penguins. Invite students to learn about their size, shape, recognizable characteristics, and habitats. How many species of penguins can be identified? Where are their natural habitats? This accordion-folded display will give students, and penguins, an opportunity to strut your stuff!
2. When research is complete, discuss with students what they have learned about penguins and the various species. Invite students to create a parade of penguins to illustrate their learning.
3. Students 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. Have traceable templates available for students who may struggle with measuring the poster board.
4. In every other box, students draw a picture of a different species of penguin. Using Crayola Twistables, color in the penguins. Highlight each one’s unique characteristics.
5. 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. Assist students with writing as needed.
6. Provide an opportunity for students to compare and contrast the various species of penguins that have been researched in this activity.

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.

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.