Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to learn about penguins through engaging art and science activities.

Materials and Prep

• White paper
• Colored pencils or crayons
• Scissors
• Glue
• Black construction paper
• Empty plastic bottle
• Water
• Blue food coloring (optional)

No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.

Activities

• Create a Penguin Collage:

  Using the black construction paper, cut out shapes to create a penguin. Glue the shapes onto the white paper to form a penguin collage. Color in the penguin with colored pencils or crayons.

• Make a Penguin Painting:

  Using the colored pencils or crayons, draw a penguin on the white paper. Color it in with your favorite colors. You can also paint the penguin using watercolors if available.

• Penguin Science Experiment:

  Fill the empty plastic bottle with water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring if desired to represent the ocean. Place the bottle upside down and observe how the water flows out. Discuss with the student how penguins swim in the water.

Talking Points

• Penguins are birds that cannot fly. They have wings, but they use them to swim in the water.

• Penguins live in cold places like Antarctica. They have a layer of fat called blubber to keep them warm.

• Penguins eat fish and other small sea creatures. They catch their food by diving into the water.

• Penguins have black and white feathers. The black feathers help them blend in with the dark water when seen from above, while the white feathers help them blend in with the bright sky when seen from below.

• Penguins build nests out of rocks to lay their eggs. Both the mommy and daddy penguins take turns keeping the eggs warm until they hatch.