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Learning Activity:

MAKE YOUR OWN PENGUIN

Overview

In this craft activity, students will use their creativity and learn about penguins. Students will decorate

a discarded toilet paper roll to resemble a penguin while they discover interesting facts about the

penguin species.

Learning Objective

At the completion of the activity, students should be able to:

• Identify the characteristics of penguins, the threats they face, and ways we can protect these animals.

• Understand how climate change is affecting the habitat in which penguins live.

Materials Needed

• Toilet paper roll

• Construction paper (black, white, and orange sheets)

• Scissors

• Glue

• Coloring supplies: crayons, colored pencils, markers

Vocabulary

• �Camouflage:�to conceal by disguise

• Climate change: significant and long-lasting changes in the Earth’s climate and weather patterns over time due to natural causes or as a result of human activity

• Habitat: a natural environment in which plants and animals live, breed, and get their food, water, and shelter

Activity Type Arts and Crafts

Focus Area Arts Education

Duration 30–40 minutes

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Activity Procedure

Part 1: Introduction and Preparation

• Ask the students to share what they know about penguins.

– Penguins are classified as birds, but they have flippers instead of wings.

– Because of their webbed feet, stiff flippers, and sleek shape, they are excellent swimmers and divers, and some species can reach speeds of up to 15 miles an hour.

– While on land, they waddle, run, or hop in an upright stance. They can travel long distances on land by sliding on their bellies over the ice, propelled by their wings and feet; this is known as “tobogganing.”

– There are 18 species of penguin. All of these species but one live in and around icy Antarctica.

– The species that live in the colder temperatures have a thick layer of blubber and tightly packed, oily feathers.

– Some of their natural predators are leopard seals and orcas. Their black bodies and white bellies allow them to camouflage from predators.

– Penguin feces are a bright pink color, which is caused by eating krill. Their diet also consists of squid, crabs, and small fish.

– Most penguins stay with their mates for a long time, and the females lay one or two eggs during mating season. Both parents take turns keeping their eggs warm and shielded from the harsh weather. Once the eggs hatch, the parents feed and protect their chicks.

• Continue the discussion by talking about the threats facing penguins in the wild.

– The main threat facing penguins is climate change. Most penguins live in Antarctica and depend on sea ice for access to food and places to breed. Antarctica may seem remote, but its marine ecosystems are undergoing rapid change. Climate warming, ocean acidification, and loss of sea ice affect wildlife habitats and populations. When sea ice melts, it affects temperatures in the Antarctic, causing sea levels to rise, which threatens coastal communities and wildlife.

– Commercial fishing in the Southern Ocean region is adversely affecting penguins. It causes competition for the food they eat and can lead to accidental capture and drowning in fish nets, referred to as “bycatch.”

Emperor penguins, Ross Sea, Antarctica

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Part 2: ActivityHave the students do the following tasks.

1. Cut a piece of white construction paper to glue around the outside of the toilet paper roll. The whole roll should be covered.

2. Next, color in the top third of the toilet paper roll, using a black marker or crayon, to visually separate the head and belly (use the image to the right to reference size and position).

3. Cut out a diamond shape for the beak using orange construction paper, then fold the diamond in half and glue one of the sides onto the top third of the roll.

4. Cut out two large, skinny triangle shapes for the flippers using black construction paper, then glue one triangle on the left side of the roll and the other on the right side.

5. Cut out two square shapes with three points at their top for the feet using orange construction paper, then glue those pieces onto the bottom of the roll.

6. Finally, cut out two small circles for the eyes using the white construction paper. Decorate the circles to resemble eyes, then glue them onto the top portion of the roll, right above the beak.

7. The penguins are now completed and ready to share with others!

Part 3: Discussion and Assessment

• After the students complete the activity, have them share their penguin creations with you and their classmates. Remind students of the unique nature of penguins—they are flightless birds that have flippers to swim—and of the interesting facts they have learned.

• Recap the lesson by reminding students that climate change is one of the main threats to penguins. Have the students brainstorm and discuss ways to combat climate change and protect penguins through actions at home. Ideas can include the following:

– Decrease electricity and energy use by turning off lights and unplugging devices when not in use.

– Using water uses energy. Reduce the amount of water used by taking shorter showers and limiting the water used for brushing teeth.

– Plant a tree. As trees grow, they help mitigate climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the earth.

– Think about how we buy and consume things. Are there ways to be a more conscious consumer? For example, when buying seafood, check to see if it has a certification that indicates it was caught or raised in a sustainable way.

– Research and write to elected representatives to tell them why they should take action to protect penguins and their habitat.

– Share what has been learned with family and friends, and support organizations such as WWF.

Extended Learning Options

• Have students research one of the penguin species, such as emperor penguin, Adélie penguin, chinstrap penguin, gentoo penguin, or Galápagos penguin, and share information about the species in class or to a small group.

• Use a tablet or smartphone (if available) to download the WWF Together app. Encourage students to explore the penguin segment to learn more.

• Empower your students to protect the wildlife and wild places they’ve been studying by creating a fundraiser with WWF’s Panda Nation. Learn more at pandanation.org.

Additional Background Information

• Article: WWF Featured Species: Penguins

• Article: Tracking Adélie penguins in Antarctica

• Video: Top facts about penguins

• Article: Last Chance to Save ‘The Last Ocean’

For more fun classroom activities with a focus on wild species and conservation, visit wildclassroom.org.

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Adélie penguins on an ice formation in the Antarctic Peninsula

Photos: page 1 Emperor penguin © iStock.com; page 2 © Tiffany Boyd; page 3 © WWF-US-Hannah Feltz; page 4 © WWF-Australia/Chris Johnson.© 2021 WWF. All rights reserved by World Wildlife Fund, Inc. WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. All rights reserved.