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Friday, January 6

Penguin Fun

I found the cutest penguin activities this summer on First Grader At Last!  I'm so glad I saved the idea-- and actually remembered it!  The kids learned about penguins today and had lots of fun.  We started by creating a penguin schema chart.  I was really impressed with what the children already knew.  They weren't super excited about sharing until I started writing their names next to the fact they gave (on the sticky notes).  After that, there were hands flying high!  Next we read Penguins by Gail Gibbons.  As we came to "facts" that were incorrect, we moved the sticky notes to the Misconceptions fish.  I also wrote new facts on our penguin chart as we found them in the book.

My favorite part of the day was making pink penguins.  We read Pink! by Lynne Rickards.  What a cute book!  Afterwards, the children used construction paper and scrapbook paper to make their penguins.  I didn't give them any patterns.  They had to listen and follow directions as we made each piece.  I love how different they turned out.  The last part of our project was to write about their pink penguin.  This is probably the best they have done with writing all year!!  They were so excited about it.  Most started out the same way "My penguin's name is ____".  After that I allowed them to write anything they wanted (a description of their penguin, about their penguin's family, activities their penguin likes, where their penguin lives...).  After I modeled mine they got started.  It was SO quiet in the room as they created their descriptions. 



Next week the kids will measure themselves against an Emperor Penguin, complete a graph in their math notebook ("Have you seen a real penguin?"), and read more fiction and nonfiction penguin books.
Click here to download the graph.

We will also complete the activity below.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

This is such a great set of activities!! Love it!
Jennifer
First Grade Blue Skies

Lisa Lizak and Beth Wright said...

I love the book PINK! Pernguins and the color pink, your activity couldn't be cuter :)

Lisa :) (new follower)
http://madeintheshadeinsecondgrade.blogspot.com/

Elisabeth said...

I just pinned this so I can come back when we do penguins at the end of the month! Love it! : )

Miss Kindergarten said...

Ugh!!!!!!! I am completely jealous of this entire thing!!!

Amanda at Learn, Laugh, Grow said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm so glad you did because it led me back to your AWESOME blog :) I am super excited to follow you and see all your wonderful ideas!

Amanda
Learn, Laugh, Grow

Unknown said...

Have not read that book PINK yet but after seeing your ideas I am super excited to!! I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Check it out at www.tattlingtotheteacher.blogspot.com.

Laura

Vickie said...

Love the White/Black comparison...will have to do this!

Jeannie said...

love the penguin ideas..What a wonderful site! I am so glad I found it! I am your newest follower! Come see me too!
~jeannie~
­ Kindergarten Lifestyle

Anonymous said...

I love love love this! I am excited to try this with my K kiddies. I was wondering if you would be willing to share your writing sheet that goes with the Pink Penguin?
Laurie
lshee3qx@gmail.com