LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Penguin paradise

Students will demonstrate their understanding of how to communicate statements of information through the composition of a one paragraph summary about a penguin.

A lesson plan for grade 1 English Language Arts and Science

By Jovonne Shivers

Learn more

Related pages

  • How Do Pumpkins Grow? book: This is an integrated science and language arts lesson plan. Students will create individual books that illustrate how pumpkins grow.
  • The life cycle of a seed: This lesson integrates science into the language arts block. Students will read about plant life cycle events and then write their own books about the life cycle of a plant.
  • Slipsliding poetry: Students will work with a partner to write an original piece of poetry to express information learned about the rain forest and an animal that lives in that habitat. Students will share their poems by creating a multimedia slide show.

Related topics

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

This page copyright ©2008. Terms of use

Learning outcomes

Students will:

  • Learn where penguins live, what they look like, what kinds of food they eat, and other interesting facts.
  • Demonstrate this understanding through writing.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

2 days

Materials/resources

  • Penguins Through the Year, by Robin Bernard
  • chart paper
  • first grade writing paper
  • pencils
  • graphic organizers
  • rubric

Technology resources

  • access to the computer lab
  • internet connection

Pre-activities

  • Students should know that sentences begin with capital letters and end with periods, question marks, or exclamation points.
  • Teacher should model how to compose a paragraph that includes the use of statements of information.
  • Students should have a clear understanding of how to write statements of information.
  • Teacher should provide students with a rubric.

Activities

  1. Briefly review the definition of statements of information and how sentences should begin and end.
  2. Explain to students that we will be writing statements of information about penguins.
  3. Complete whole class KWL chart to see what students already know about penguins and what they would like to learn.
  4. Read the book Penguins Through the Year by Robin Bernard. Ask questions to check for comprehension.
  5. Complete animal graphic organizer to use as an aid in writing the paragraph.
  6. Go over rubric.
  7. Write a five sentence paragraph about penguins.
  8. Once writing is complete reread your rough draft for mistakes. Trade papers with a partner and make any necessary corrections. Draw a picture to go with your writing.
  9. Summarize lesson by completing the what we learned section of the KWL chart.
  10. Extension activities: Visit the website listed to learn more about the different kinds of penguins. Challenge your students to complete the online quiz.

Assessment

Use the rubric and completion of KWL chart to determine student understanding. Use a penguin quiz from Enchanted Learning.
There is also a checklist.

Supplemental information

Attachment:

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 1

  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.07: Compare authors' uses of conventions of language that aid readers including:
      • kinds of sentences.
      • capitalization of first word in a sentence and proper names.
      • punctuation to end a declarative and interrogative sentence.
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.05: Write and/or participate in writing by using an author's model of language and extending the model (e.g., writing different ending for a story, composing an innovation of a poem).
    • Objective 4.06: Compose a variety of products (e.g., stories, journal entries, letters, response logs, simple poems, oral retellings).
  • Goal 5: The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively.
    • Objective 5.05: Use basic capitalization and punctuation
      • first word in a sentence.
      • proper names.
      • period to end declarative sentence.
      • question mark to end interrogative sentence.
    • Objective 5.06: Self-monitor composition by using one or two strategies (e.g., rereading, peer conferences).

Science (2005)

Kindergarten

  • Goal 1: The learner will make observations and build an understanding of similarities and differences in animals.
    • Objective 1.01: Observe and describe the similarities and differences among animals including:
      • Structure.
      • Growth.
      • Changes.
      • Movement.
    • Objective 1.05: Observe the similarities of humans to other animals including:
      • Basic needs.
      • Growth and change.
      • Movement.