LEARN NC

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

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 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Science

By Betty Burleson

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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, Humpty Dumpty, 1992
  • 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 LaanA Big Book by Scholastic Book Company
  • Plenty of Penguins, by Sonia W. Black Scholastic Publications
  • 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 (AR level 3.5)
    • Penguin Pete Ahoy! by Marcus Pfister (AR level 3.0)
    • Penguin Pete and Little Tim by Marcus Pfister (AR level 3.4)
    • Penguin Pete’s New Friends by Marcus Pfister (AR level 2.6)

Technology resources

Computer, Student Writing Center or any other word processing program, and 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.

Related websites

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/4482/penguinsheets.htm
This site contains lots of print outs and activities to use when studying penguins.

http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us/lmes/penguins/penguins.htm
This site was created by second graders with illustrations of various types of penguins.

http://www.pinn.net/~efm/index.html
This site was created by a fifth grader about penguins.

This site shows a video on the habitat of the penguin and also penguins in their rookery. Real Player is needed for this video.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0101/penguins.html

Visit a Rookery with this site. You must have Shockwave for this site. http://www.neaq.org/scilearn/kids/old/bap/index.html

This site has a penguin cam.
http://dsc.discovery.com/cams/penguin.html?ct=3bd62486

This site has lots of ideas and extensions for a unit on penguins.
http://members.aol.com/MGoudie/penguincapers.html

This site will give you information about penguin adaptations.
http://octopus.gma.org/surfing/antarctica/penguin.html

This site has many books and sites that are useful for the teacher to use to learn more about penguins.
http://www.libsci.sc.edu/miller/penguins.htm

Comments

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North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Information Skills (2000)

Grade 1

  • Goal 1: The learner will EXPLORE sources and formats for reading, listening, and viewing purposes.
    • Objective 1.03: Demonstrate appropriate care of resources.
    • Objective 1.05: Demonstrate sense of story (e. g., beginning, middle, end, characters, details).
    • Objective 1.09: Demonstrate awareness that resources convey meaning and exist in a variety of formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, web-based).
  • Goal 4: The learner will EXPLORE and USE research processes to meet information needs.

Computer Technology Skills (2005)

Grade 1

  • Goal 1: The learner will understand important issues of a technology-based society and will exhibit ethical behavior in the use of computer and other technologies.
    • Objective 1.04: Discuss ownership of computer-created work. Strand - Societal/Ethical Issues
  • Goal 2: The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.
    • Objective 2.07: Use multimedia software to illustrate words/phrases/concepts. Strand - Multimedia/Presentation
    • Objective 2.08: Explore Internet resources and information using teacher-created bookmarks/favorites and discuss the variety and types of information found as a class activity. Strand - Telecommunications/Internet

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 1

  • Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.01: Read aloud independently with fluency and comprehension any text that is appropriately designed for emergent readers.
    • Objective 2.03: Read and comprehend both fiction and nonfiction text appropriate for grade one using:
      • prior knowledge.
      • summary.
      • questions.
      • graphic organizers.
    • Objective 2.04: Use preparation strategies to anticipate vocabulary of a text and to connect prior knowledge and experiences to a new text.
    • Objective 2.07: Respond and elaborate in answering what, when, where, and how questions.
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.03: Use specific words to name and tell action in oral and written language (e.g., using words such as frog and toad when discussing an expository text).

Science (2005)

Grade 1

  • Goal 1: The learner will conduct investigations and make observations to build an understanding of the needs of living organisms.
    • Objective 1.02: Investigate the needs of a variety of different animals:
      • Air.
      • Water.
      • Food.
      • Shelter.
      • Space.