Attention Getter: Black, White and Both!
Hang up a poster that is one half black and one half white. Let the children tell you all the things that are WHITE that they can think of. Then move to BLACK and let them name black things. Finally, place a picture of a penguin in the middle and point out that it is WHITE and BLACK! Let them think of white and black things that would fit in that category.
Activity 1: Five Types of Penguins
These are the pictures we use along with the basic facts that we share.
Book: Penguin Pete
Read Penguin Pete to the children. This is an endearing story that compares penguins to flying birds. Point out that penguins are the same and different from flying birds. They have feathers, beaks, and wings, but cannot fly. But their short wings and heavy bodies help them swim and dive which is something most birds cannot do.
Activity 2: Why Penguins Are Great Swimmers!
Penguin Wings: Ask the class if they can tell you how penguin wings look different than bird wings. Guide them to discover that penguin wings are small compared to their bodies, while bird wings are large.
Show a paper wing that is light and airy like a birds, and then show one that is heavy and dense like a penguins. Ask, "Which wing would be better for flying and which one would be better for swimming?" Wave them each in the air to represent the different amount of air movements they can create. Then place a container of water in front of the class and ask, "Which one will be better for swimming?" Swipe each in the water. The bird feather will not produce much movement, but the penguin wings will! (We often like to add a little extra splash as we do the penguin wing demonstration. And sometimes the children even get wet.)
Penguin Bodies: Fill one plastic egg with salt and tape it closed. Have another plastic egg that is empty. Show the heavy egg and explain that penguin bodies are heavy which makes it so they can dive deep into the water. Show the empty egg and explain that birds that fly have light bodies. Let the children feel the two eggs as they pass them around the circle.
Place two quart jars filled with water in front of the group and ask the class to guess what will happen when you drop each egg into the water. After the children guesses, drop each egg in and let the children observe how the light egg floats and the heavy egg sinks. The heavy egg is like a penguin's body which makes it able to dive deep into the water.
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