Penguins (Partial Unit)

Reading

- For younger readers, read If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor.  Older readers can read Penguins Strange and Wonderful by Laurence Pringle.  Write down 10 facts that you learned.

Writing

- Write a story about penguins that uses at least 5 facts that you have learned.  You can use the picture found here: http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/pdf.htm?penguin.pdf for your book cover.  Lay the cover page over several blank pages and then cut along the outline of the penguin to make a penguin shaped booked.  When the book is complete, you can either staple the pages together or bind them some other way.

Math

- Use a website or books to find out the average height of several different types of penguins and make a bar graph showing what you learned.  Some types of penguins include: Emperor, Fairy, King, Adelie, and Rockhopper.
- Practice percentages by playing this game: http://www.funbrain.com/penguin/index.html
- Practice number places with this game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/starship/maths/placethepenguin.shtml

Science

- Watch March of the Penguins to learn more about the life of an Emperor Penguin.

Service

- Put together a fundraiser in order to foster a Yellow Eyed Penguin chick for 1 year.  It costs $20 for 1 year of fostering.  You can learn more here: http://www.penguins.org.nz/content/foster-yep-chick  Ideas for a service project include shoveling driveways/sidewalks for neighbors, helping with chores around the house, or making and selling penguin themed crafts.

Health

- Penguins have blubber to help keep their bodies warm.  To experience how blubber works, get a cup of ice water.  Place your finger in the water to see just how cold it is.  Then coat your finger in a thick layer of shortening and place it in the water again.  Humans do not have blubber to protect their bodies from the extreme cold.  Hypothermia and frostbite are 2 issues that people face when exposed to extreme cold.  Learn about the symptoms of either one of these medical issues and create a poster telling others how to avoid getting them.  Also be sure to learn how to treat the issue you choose.

Social Studies

- Penguins live in a variety of climates and locations.  Based on your earlier research (reading, writing, math), make a list of all the places where penguins live.  Then use a world map to locate each of these locations.