Oh how I LOVE learning about penguins!! They are just the dang cutest things, aren’t they?! I’ve tried to get my boys into Happy Feet, but they aren’t big fans just yet. Boo. Anyway, we had a lot of penguin fun this week and I can’t wait to continue with more in the week to come! First off, if you haven’t had a chance to purchase Deanna Jump’s Penguin Unit, GO.NOW. It’s FULL of awesome ideas and activities which is one of the reasons I’ve extended our penguin learning for another week. AND…you need to check out Babbling Abby’s post about her week of Penguin fun! She has some DARLING ideas too and a 5-day lesson plan to download. LOVE it!
This post is all shades of random because it was a wild week at school. We just started mid-year testing {thankfully not much!!}…and it was a FULL MOON…so I’m sorry if things are a little all over the place 🙂
We started the week reading a few non-fiction penguin books and added to our anchor chart. I got this idea from Deanna Jump’s unit and copied Babbling Abby’s anchor chart idea 🙂 The kids DIED over this!!!!
One of our objectives this week was inferencing, so I introduced “regurgitation” and did a little inferencing lesson with that. I had the kids write about what they thought the word meant and when we finally learned what regurgitation really was, the kids FLIPPED. There were a few facts that the kids were “oooohing & aahhhhing” over, so I had them write using the prompt, “I’m glad I’m not a penguin because…” I got some really good responses!
Graphics courtesy of DJ Inkers
After we read a few non-fiction penguin books, I set-up this little activity at the writing center {another great idea from Deanna Jump’s penguin unit}. I had the kids write 4 facts they learned about penguins and then they made their own little penguins. They were all SO different and I just LOVE that!
We went fishing for –sh words {beginning & ending} for word work one day this week. The kids loved this one! I mixed up a ton of digraph words {ch, sh, th, wh} and had the kids sort through them to find the beginning and ending –sh words.
Graphics courtesy of Digi Web Studio
And here’s a fun little blend activity! I set out 3 baking pans {Dollar Tree, of course} and labeled each with a blend. The kids had to sort through lots of cut-up “cookies” and make real {gr, tr, br} words by matching the onset to the rime. Then they had to place the “cookies” on the baking sheet 🙂
Graphics courtesy of Digi Web Studio
OH…here’s a fun little problem solving activity I did a few weeks ago and forgot to share. I loved this!
Graphics courtesy of Digi Web Studio
As I was cleaning out some old boxes, I found these activities that I made FOREVER ago. This was before I knew I could get things done A LOT faster on the computer! I actually drew these penguins, ran a gajillion copies, and then colored EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE. And I cut out and glued the clip art to each and every little thing, too!!! My word. Clearly, this was PRE-kids. Wow. I don’t have the template to share because I’m pretty sure I made these my 3rd year teaching when I was in Kindergarten, so I have NO clue where that is anymore! But here are just a few little ideas…
For this one, each penguin was labeled with a different word. The kids had to find the fish with the picture that matched the word.
And for this one, the kids did a little digraph sorting.
Looks like I made this one on the computer, but when I left my old school, I didn’t save ANY of my files. This is a little CVC activity where the kids had to look at the picture and build the word.
I’m looking forward to another fun filled week learning about penguins! We still have a lot to cover!! And I’m SO happy that Sarah Cooley just posted her latest & greatest penguin activities! I’m DEFINITELY incorporating some of her fabulous ideas into my week as well!!
Looking for MORE penguin resources to add to your instruction?! Check out what teachers are saying about these activities!
Penguin Math & Literacy Centers
The Penguin Who Wanted to Fly Text to Self Freebie
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Katie says
yay!! I'm loving penguins right now too! We won't be doing them for a few weeks (we are clearly behind in our reading series), but I've been saving all these amazing ideas for then!
Thanks again for the inspiration!!
Katie
http://www.persnicketypickles.blogspot.com
Mrs. McHaffie says
I have to ask… how in the world do you have time to create all these awesome activities?? Granted, I LOVE THEM so PLEASE keep em coming! 🙂 However, I am married, with NO children, getting my masters and I just feel like I have NO time for anything else!!! Also, which do you prefer google docs or adobe?
I give you props for being "super woman"! 🙂
As always, thanks for the great ideas!
Kelly
Beg, Borrow, Steal
http://www.mchaffiek.blogspot.com
Mrs. McHaffie says
oh wait…i just realized google docs is a pdf!! ha..oops! 🙂
Jessica says
Thanks for all your creations! you are so talented, keep em' coming!
Rachelle says
Pretty much L.O.V.E all of this!!!! I'm so sad because I did penguins already, but no worries…..it's bookmarked!!!!!
-Rachelle
http://www.whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com
Ms. Durning says
Wow, how generous to share your hard work!! Thanks 🙂
http://www.msdurning.blogspot.com
Jodi says
Love these activities as always.
Jodi
http://www.fun-in-first.blogspot.com
Abby says
I. Die. You are THE BEST!!!!
Can Becks come be in your classroom in t-minus 4 years? {Gosh, that's soon!!!!}
Ms. A's Class says
I'm starting Penguins this week…all the snow days have us way behind. I'm going to have to copy you. Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful creative ideas!
Mrs. O'Brien says
Thanks for these wonderful activites and ideas Mrs. Carroll!!!! TOOOOOOO cute!
Kathleen says
So fun! I really hope I get a 1st or 2nd grade job next year! Did you read your students Tacky the Penguin? I LOVED that book as a child!
Mrs. Wiele's First Year in First Grade says
I would have to agree my kids are love the Deanna Jump Unit! They are even more excited because a Penguin in our class mascot! Thanks for all the wonderful center activities to go along with the other unit!
Erica Bohrer says
Thanks for sharing the writing! Check out my blog for a penguin math activity. I love all the resources everyone shares on blogs. I cannot believe what I was missing out on.
http://ericabohrer.blogspot.com/
Heather's Heart says
I had to revisit this post since we are about to start penguins! I shared 2 penguins digraph *freebies* yesterday and love ALL of your *freebies* in this post because they are awesome just like you! =)
We are getting a letter on Monday from Santa's brother, Jack Frost. He lives in the South Pole and is sending us a Penguin on the Shelf! =)
I LOVED our little chat on FB today. Thank you for being such a sweet blessing to me!
Heather
Heather's Heart
Melissa Machan says
Thanks so much for the freebies! I love the anchor chart idea – I posted it on my Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/FirstGradeSmiles-with a link here (hope that's ok). I am starting my penguin unit next week so I will definitely be using this idea. Thanks again – very happy to be one of your followers 🙂
Melissa
First Grade Smiles
Candy Shepard says
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Nicole says
I am currently a student teacher in my first practicum in a first grade classroom. You have just saved me a TONNE of work!!
Greetings and Thanks from Canada!
Nicole D.
Monica Iglesias-Gwynne says
Thank you so much for these fantastic resources! Much appreciated and soooooo cute!!