This Penguin Unit Study has all you need to learn about Penguins with your students in a fun way with videos, crafts, printables, recipes and even an interactive quiz!
The most enjoyable way to learn about something is to explore it from every angle and in every way possible. With this Penguin Unit Study, your children AND you will enjoy learning about Penguins as you watch videos, read books, do crafts and printables and even make food together. Have fun!
In the printables section there is no end to keep everyone busy; find word scrambles, word searches, I spy, how many words can you find, coloring pages, crossword puzzles and more.
There are also educational videos to watch, new books to check out, jokes to enjoy together, songs to learn and recipes to make.
Maybe you want to learn about Penguins for a fun project, for World Penguin Day or just because you enjoy the cute little critters. For whatever reason, this post will make it easy!
Follow my Penguins Pinterest Board for dozens of ideas from all around the web! I am constantly finding new things to add so there will be new things all the time!
When is World Penguin Day?
World Penguin Day is April 25th. There is also a Penguin Awareness Day on January 20th.
This Unit Study is the perfect thing to do leading up to that day. Of course, any time is a great time to learn about penguins.
Other Unit Studies
Facts about Penguins
Penguins are birds.
There are 18 different kinds of species in penguin. Each species can have a different size, color, markings and behavior.
They cannot fly but can swim very well with webbed feet and wings that work like flippers.
Penguins can’t walk well with their webbed feet so they do a lot of waddling and belly slides on land.
They have good hearing and can see under water.
They are missing some key genes so cannot taste fish but since they swallow them whole, they wouldn’t taste much anyway.
Penguins do not have teeth. They have small spines or hooks on their tongues and roofs of their mouths to help them hold and swallow their food whole. They don’t chew their food because they have strong muscles in their stomach to digest it.
Penguins eat fish, squid and krill. Krill are a type of shrimp. Those who eat krill have pink poop and fish eaters have white poop.
Penguins are excellent hunters and can dive to depths up to 500 feet and swim up to 22 miles per hour to catch their prey.
Adelie penguins can travel up to 185 miles in the ocean looking for food.
Penguins can drink seawater because they have a special gland that filters out the salt in the water.
Most penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere in New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina and South America.
Penguins spend half of their time on land and half in the water.
A group of penguins on land is called a waddle and a group of penguins in the water is called a raft.
Adult males are called cocks and adult females are called hens.
Penguins lay 1-2 eggs at a time. They take about two months to hatch.
Baby penguins are called chicks or fledglings.
The parents take turns taking care of the eggs and chicks so that the other one can go and eat. One is left alone with the egg or chick for weeks or even months with no food while they wait for the other to return.
Male emperor penguins keep their eggs warm by putting them on their feet and laying their belly, called a brood pouch, over them.
They lay their eggs and raise their chicks on land but find all of their food in the water. While they take care of their young, they have nothing to eat.
Penguins are black and white. These two colors give them camouflage while they are swimming. Their backs are black, which makes them hard to see from above with the dark water under them. Their fronts are white, which makes them hard to see from below while looking up at the sunlight. This kind of camouflage is called countershading.
Penguins stay warm with a thick layer of blubber, tightly packed outer feathers and an inside layer of woolly down feathers that are coated with a special oil that makes them waterproof.
The smallest type of penguin is the Little Blue Penguin. They are only 13 inches tall.
The tallest type of penguin is the Emperor Penguin. They are 47 inches tall.
The Emperor Penguin can hold their breath for 20 minutes.
Penguins have several predators; sharks, orcas and leopard seals all hunt penguins. Humans used to hunt them for their oil and eggs but they are now protected so it is illegal.
Penguins protect themselves in water by being very fast swimmers and by living in large groups on land.
Penguins come together in huge called rookeries to breed, nest and raise their young. There can be thousands and even up to a million of other penguins in one rookery.
**When you think you know the facts, take the interactive quiz at the bottom of the post! 😊
Videos about Penguins Penguin Facts for Kids by Homeschool Pop 6:24 Narration telling about penguin facts with pictures and drawings.
All About Penguins for Kids: Penguins of the World for Children from FreeSchool 6:06 Narration with video
All 19 Penguin Species (Inc 1 Proposed Australian Species) 20:00
Penguin Fail – Best Bloopers from Penguins Spy in the Huddle (Waddle all the Way) 1:16 Cute penguins falling, slipping and tumbling
Cool Cute Chicks! | Amazing Animal Babies: Emperor Penguin Chicks (Ep 5) | Earth Unplugged 2:39 Words to read about Emperor chicks
Emperor Penguins Speed Launch Out of the Water | National Geographic 2:50
Penguins jumping out of water 1:10
Amazing Penguins Collection in 4K UHD with Relaxing Music If you just really love penguins, here is 3 hours of penguin video with relaxing music to go with it.
Songs
Penguin Playtime feat. Parry Gripp (Music Video) 🐧 | Party Animals :58
The Penguin Dance | Dance Along | Pinkfong Songs for Children 1:46
Penguin Song and Dance| Winter Brain Break| Penguin Action Song |Sing Play Create 2:17
I’M A PENGUIN! (informational song for kids about penguins) 2:43
Counting Song 5 Little Penguins for Children, Kids, Babies and Toddlers | Patty Shukla 2:08
Some Jokes
Kids love jokes so I had to include some good ones here for them! Here are 84 Penguin Jokes for Kids!
Printables
Penguin How Many Words Printables
2 Penguin Word Search Printables
2 Penguin Word Scramble Printables
Penguin Color by Number by The Best Ideas for Kids
Penguin Line Study Coloring Page by Mama Likes This
Parts of a Penguin Worksheet by Living Life and Learning
Free Printable Winter Alphabet Matching Cards by Natashalh
Penguin Coloring Pages by Living Life and Learning (These include handwriting practice and features different species of penguins.)
Crafts and Activities
Slippery Penguins on Ice Experiment by The Moments at Home
Easy Penguin Bookmark Corner by Red Ted Art
Easy Paper Penguin Puppet by Red Ted Art
Adorable Penguin Craft by Lightly Sketched
Penguin Family Portrait with Rocks by Sustain my Craft Habit
Penguin Craft Template by Little Ladoo
Paper Penguin Craft with Moving Arms by Simply Full of Delight
Paper Plate Penguin and Igloo Winter Craft for Kids by In the Playroom
Penguin Craft with Accordion Legs by Mama Likes This
Craft Stick Penguin by Creatively Beth
Penguin Puppet Craft by Crafty Kids Play
3D Paper Plate Penguin Craft by Crafty Kids Play
Penguin Finger Puppet Craft by Homan at Home
Penguin Name Craft for Kids by Simple Everyday Mom
Paper Plate Penguin Craft for Kids by Simple Everyday Mom
Recipes
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Penguins by Healthy Kids Recipes
Adorable Penguin Craft and Healthy Snack for Kids by Mama of Minis
Oreo Penguin Cupcakes by DIY and Fun
Penguin Themed Snacks by The Ot Tool Box
Penguin Olives by Not Quite Susie
Great Value Penguin Crackers found in Walmart cracker aisle
How to Draw Penguins
Here is some instruction on how to draw penguins. They are a little bit different and the outcome of what the penguin looks like is a bit different so you can choose which you like.
Easy to draw penguin by Lightly Sketched gives easy to follow step by step instructions.
How To Draw A Realistic Emperor Penguin by Art for Kids Hub 10:51
I found the facts for this post from the following sources
It is always good to cite your sources and if you would like to read more details, there is much more information at the links.
Take the quiz to test your knowledge here!
Penguin Quiz
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Cindy
Welcome! I am a wife, mother, mother-in-law, Grammy, daughter, sister, retired homeschooler, writer, recipe inventor, photographer and website content creator
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