The emperor's prize egg

This lesson will introduce students to the life of a penguin. They will explore penguins' habitats, eating habits, and other unique adaptations that they use to survive in Antarctica.

A lesson plan for grade 1 Computer/Technology Skills, English Language Arts, and Science

By Betty Burleson

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Related topics

• Learn more about animals, graphic organizers, language arts, penguins, pre-reading strategies, read-alouds, science, and technology skills.

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Learning outcomes

Students will learn about the habitats, eating habits, and the life of penguins. They will become familiar with related vocabulary words as well as learn to research penguins on the Internet.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

90 minutes

Materials/resources

• Poem: Ties and Tails
• Song: I’m a Little Penguin, Found in Mailbox submitted by Daphne L. Rivera from Bob Sikes Elem. School Crestview, Fl.
• One Icy Day by Nancy Van Laan (A Big Book by Scholastic Book Company)
• Plenty of Penguins by Sonia W. Black
• Other Literature Resources (These are just a few ones that I suggest but any that you have will do for this lesson.)
• Penguin Pete by Marcus Pfister
• Penguin Pete Ahoy! by Marcus Pfister
• Penguin Pete and Little Tim by Marcus Pfister
• Penguin Pete’s New Friends by Marcus Pfister

Technology resources

• Computer
• Student Writing Center or any other word processing program
• Kidspiration
• A Presentation device attached to a Television or LCD projector can be used for sharing the internet sites.
• Internet access

Pre-activities

• Teacher will display a picture of a penguin. Solicit student responses about their prior knowledge of penguins.
• Responses will be recorded using KWL format. The “K” part of this organizer will be created as the students contribute. (What I Think I know about Penguins.)
• Next, teacher will read poem, Ties and Tails
• Finally have the students express what they would like to find out about penguins. Teacher should fill in the “W” (What I think I know about penguins and/or What I Want to find out about penguins.) part of the KWL graphic.

Activities

1. Teacher and students will discuss the illustration of a penguin.
2. Teacher will teach and sing the teacher made song, I’m a Little Penguin, sung to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”. As children sing along, ask them to think about what the penguin looks like, what it eats, and how it moves.
3. Use prior knowledge and discussion to lead into the reading of book, Plenty of Penguins.
4. Teacher will invite group to look at front of Plenty of Penguins and make predictions.
5. As book is introduced teacher will write pertinent vocabulary words on the board.
6. Teacher will lead class in taking a picture walk and talk about is happening in this book.
7. Following second reading, teacher along with students will review characters, setting, and plot.
8. Talk about difficult words in the story. Demonstrate how meaning, structure and visual cues can be used to correct hard and tricky word parts.
9. Students should be encouraged to join in second reading. Remind children that picture cues and rhyming words will help them when reading the text.
10. At the conclusion of book talk, complete the “L” part of the KWL organizer. (What I Learned about Penguins.)
11. Using all activities, have students create a knowledge web. A penguin picture should be placed in the middle of the page with spokes extending out. Students will place Penguin Facts on these extensions. This activity can be done on the computer using software program entitled Kidspiration. Penguin Facts
12. Students will then implement ideas to write their own story about penguins. This story can be typed using a word processing program like Student Writing Center, Microsoft Word, or Clarisworks.

Assessment

Students will make a web using penguin facts

Each child will write a story using information learned in the lesson and then type this story using a word processing program.

Supplemental information

The book Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester is also a nice book to use with this penguin lesson. She has two sequels to this book that are humorous and the students love them.