Brain Builders: Super Penguin Facts

This winter weather has us thinking about our animals friends.  What animals live in winter weather conditions?  How do they keep warm?  What do they eat?  This week for Brain Builders, we’ll explore some facts about penguins and make our own penguin craft.  

Fast facts about penguins

Penguin fact #1:  All penguins live in the southern hemisphere.  They don’t just live in Antarctica, they also live in South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.  Penguins even live in warm weather sometimes!  (p.s. polar bears only live in the northern hemisphere, so if you ever see a picture with a penguin and a polar bear in it together you know that picture isn’t very accurate.)

Penguin fact #2:  Most penguins are black and white—this protects them from predators.  A predator swimming above can’t see their sleek black backs, and a predator swimming below can’t tell the difference between their white bellies and sunlight coming through the water.  

Penguin fact #3:  Penguins are birds but don’t have wings.  They have flippers.  These flippers help them swim fast.  

Penguin fact #4:  Penguins have to keep high body temperatures to stay active so they can hunt for fish.  Penguins have thick skin, lots of blubber, and they also huddle together with their friend to keep warm.  

Penguin fact #5:  Penguins come in all different sizes! 

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How tall are you? Are you taller or shorter than the penguins above?

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Make a penguin

You can make your own penguin at home with some simple household items.  

Materials needed: 

• Toilet paper tube
• black, white and orange/yellow paper
• glue stick
• googly eyes

Directions: 

1. Measure and cut paper to wrap around the tp tube.  You may want to have a little overlap and you may want to tape this piece.  
2. Cut out a white tummy and glue on.  
3. Cut flippers and a beak and feet.  
4. You can cut a little fringe if you want to make a macaroni penguin! 
5. Add googly eyes.  
6. Share what you know about penguins with your friends and family!  

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