Penguin Families

We ended our penguin unit by turning our classroom into Antarctica and acting out penguin life as penguin families! We had made penguin puppets a couple days before to reinforce the physical characteristics of penguins, and why they need each of their body parts. We used our puppets to slide on ice, dive into water for fish, and care for our eggs.

Stanford Trees were so careful and deliberate about not letting their eggs touch the ice, and keeping them safe on their feet and on their brood pouch. We were so surprised when halfway through caring for our eggs, they hatched!!! Stanford Trees marveled at their fuzzy chicks with downy feathers. We had a great time!

Tide Pools at EPACS

A couple weeks ago, we got a wonderful visit from the Marine Science Institute. They brought creatures from our estuary, and let us explore and observe them with our five senses.

Our guides were so wonderful about explaining all about our creatures, and teaching us new vocabulary words!

Ask your first grader to explain:

Estuary

(The Mermaid)

Brackish water

Sea star

Penguins Here, Penguins There, Penguins, Penguins Everywhere!

We have continued our penguin study exploring penguins' unique physical characteristics, their harsh environment, and how penguins' adaptations help them thrive in their environment.

We experienced first hand how waterproof feathers are critical to a penguin's survival by feeling the difference between ice on our bare hand, on a sock-covered hand, and on a waterproof glove.

Stanford Trees exclaimed

• "The waterproof glove helps my hand from freezing just like the waterproof feathers help the penguin from freezing!"
• "The penguin has waterproof feathers because the ice is so frigid!"

In Science, we explored how ice freezes, and made predictions and observations about the differences between water and ice.

We learned more about ice by reading about ice-filled Antarctica!

Stanford Trees couldn't believe how cold Antarctica is, but decided they would like to be one of the 4,000 scientists that travel to Antarctica each summer to learn more about the environment!