Friday, January 13, 2012

Penguins and a Poem

What an awesome week we've had learning about penguins and arctic animals! I purchased DeAnna Jump's unit off TpT and my kinders have had a blast with it. Here are a few pics from our fun filled week...
We did an experiment to test how penguins stay warm in the water. After learning that penguins have oil on their feathers to repel water and a thick layer of fat (called blubber) to keep warm, we tested the theory. Students covered one hand in petroleum jelly and stuck another in a "blubber glove." Check out this student's writing and her attention to detail. I just love the red fingernails! hee hee
We read numerous non-fiction books and responded to several writing prompts. The pages were bound in an "All About Penguin" book!






















The penguin glyphs turned out great. The patterns I used (for most of the parts) were a little different than the ones DeAnna had in her unit. We tallied our results and students charted the answers on a tally table. 
And of course, we had to read a few fictional texts! Unfortunately, my iPhoto went crazy and deleted my favorite picture of all after I had already cleared it from my camera. And to top it off, it deleted it mid way through my editing so the image is half way cropped and looks weird. So...there is no retrieval from the trash bin on that one unless someone knows a trick to undo an editing job after accidentally saving? Poop. Friday the 13th luck? Maybe I'll take a photo of it next week and just post it with no words at all. I just feel like you all have to see it. It's my precious little penguin chart that I copied from everyone else.....but still.  It's cute and I named him Henry. So...yea. On a happier note, Jack Frost stopped by today and brought snow so I enjoyed a snow day (and will have a 4 day wknd because of MLK day). Don't hate me! :) I'm leaving you with a little penguin poem because I love ya'll.
Click on the image to download. Have a happy weekend!

10 comments:

Unknown said...

I pinned and still want to do that experiment...and your penguins are too cute!
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies

Unknown said...

really great pictures and those penguins are too much!

Unknown said...

Love your penguins! Looks like you had fun! :)
Cheryl
Crayons and Curls

Kristin said...

What a fun experiment!!!
And I love that poem/song or whatever you want to call it. SOOOO cute!
A Teeny Tiny Teacher

Sue said...

Thanks for sharing the penguin ideas....my little ones are enjoying penguins as well :)

Sue
theverybusykindergarten

Kerri Buckner said...

Thanks for sharing the poem. I'm obsessed with poems right now and collecting them everywhere. Love all your activities. I did the blubber experiment last year with my first graders and used crisco. It was hilarious.

amy.lemons said...

Those penguins are too cute!

Kimberly said...

I love the penguins! I just discovered your blog... I love love love it! I'm your newest follower! :)
Kimberly
creativeteaching-kimberly.blogspot.com

Kim said...

Love all the great penguin things and the freebie! Going to start that theme soon! Thanks for entering my giveaway and becoming a follower!

Kim
Growing Up Teaching

Sharon Dudley said...

Miss E, I just found your blog and I love the penguin poem. I don't know if you know the song "Penguin Dance Chant" by Jack Hartmann. My pre-k kids just love it. It's great for sequencing. Also, I'm having a contest on my blog to give away an entire 100th Day packet. If you're interested, stop by. I'm a blind teacher of regular-education students, and I really want to help teachers out there who might have visually impaired students.

Sharon Dudley, NBCT
http://teachingwithsight.blogspot.com