Penguin Pals Table of Contents: Resources Academic Standards Background Information Vocabulary Suggested Reading List Teacher Resources Related Websites Pre-Visit Activity Penguin Tales In-Zoo Activity Aquarium Scavenger Hunt Post-Visit Activity Where in the World Are Penguins?
C Printed on Recycled Paper
Penguin Pals Grades 1-3: Why do penguins look like they’re wearing tuxedos? Where do they live? What do they eat? Are they really birds? How can you tell them apart? These are just a few of the many questions that will be investigated in a close examination of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s penguins in this Aquarium class.
Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology 4.3. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH • 4. 3. 4
C Understand that the elements of natural systems are interdependent.
4.4. AGRICULTURE • 4. 4. 4 • 4. 4. 4
SOCIETY
A Know the importance of agriculture to humans. B Know that food and fiber originate from plants and animals.
4.6. ECOSYSTEMS • 4. 6. 4
AND
AND THEIR INTERACTIONS
A Understand that living things are dependent on nonliving things in the environment for survival.
4.7. THREATENED, ENDANGERED, • 4. 7. 4 • 4. 7. 4 • 4. 7. 4
AND
EXTINCT SPECIES
A Identify differences in living things. B Know that adaptations are important for survival. C Define and understand extinction.
Academic Standards for Science and Technology 3.1. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES • 3. 1. 4 • 3. 1. 4
A Know the similarities and differences of living things. B Know that characteristics are inherited and thus offspring closely resemble their parents.
Primary
Background Information Penguins are flightless aquatic birds found throughout the Southern Hemisphere. They can be found primarily on and around the continent of Antarctica, but also along the southern coasts of Africa, Australia, around New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, both coasts of South America, and one species can even be found along the equator on the Galapagos Islands. There are 17 species of penguins, divided into 6 groups: Harlequin penguins, including the Humboldt (or Peruvian), Galápagos, Magellanic, and Black-footed (or Jackass) penguins; brush-tailed penguins, including the Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo (or Johnny) penguins; crested penguins, including the Rockhopper, Macaroni, Royal, Erect-crested, Fjordland, and Snares Island penguins; large penguins, including the Emperor and King penguins; and two species that have each been assigned groups all their own, the Yellow-eyed penguin and the Fairy (or Little Blue) penguin. Penguins at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is home to three species of penguins: the king penguin, the macaroni penguin, and the gentoo penguin. All three are found on islands surrounding the continent of Antarctica. Standing 3 feet tall, king penguins are the largest penguin housed at the Zoo, and the second largest in the world. They have silvery grey feathers on their backs, with orange/yellow ear and chest patches. Their chicks have fuzzy brown feathers, and were once thought to be a separate species (the wooly penguin). At 24 – 35 inches gentoo penguins stand almost as tall as the king penguins, but weigh substantially less (10 – 14 lbs. to the king’s 30 – 45 lbs.). “Gentoo” refers to inhabitants of India who wore cotton caps resembling the white band across this penguin’s head. They are the largest of the brush-tailed penguins. The macaroni penguin is the smallest penguin at the Zoo, standing just over 2 feet tall, but is the largest of the crested penguins. They are easily recognized by the yellow feathers on either side of their head. The name Macaroni describes these feathers, which resemble an eighteenth century hat fashion worn by young Englishmen. This is also the origin for the words to “Yankee Doodle,” sung during the Revolutionary War to poke fun at the poorly dressed Continental Army. Coloration - Penguins are primarily black and white, often thought to resemble little men in tuxedos. Penguins are black on their backs and white on their bellies. This color pattern is known as countershading. On land, they are extremely obvious, but in the water, their white bellies make them practically invisible to underwater predators. The black backs also promote heat absorption and can aid in temperature regulation in the frigid waters. Each species of penguins has unique markings, usually on the head, which make it easily recognizable. Temperature Regulation - Since penguins are primarily cold-weather birds, living in an area where temperatures may drop to -100oF, they are well insulated. They have a coat of short, hard feathers with downy bottoms to keep out the cold. The feathers are very dense, about 70 per square inch, and overlap like shingles. Oil makes these feathers form a waterproof shell that prevents heat loss in and out of the water. Penguins also have a thick layer of subcutaneous fat called blubber that helps them to retain body heat and store energy for times of fasting (such as during egg incubation).
Background continued: Locomotion - Penguins are unable to fly, but are outstanding swimmers. Their torpedo-shaped body, webbed feet and strong, stiff flippers allow them to “fly” gracefully and swiftly through the water. They can be seen porpoising along the surface, allowing them to breathe on the go and possibly confusing predators. On land, their waddling gait is due to their leg placement far back on their bodies, which aids enormously in swimming. The most efficient way for them to travel on land is tobogganing on their bellies, propelling themselves with their flippers and feet, using their claws for traction. Feeding - Penguins feed primarily on fish, squid, and krill, a small, shrimp-like animal that is plentiful in the Antarctic waters. Penguins dive deep after prey. Most dives are between 250 - 400 feet, but can go down as far as 1/4 mile and stay under for as long as 20 minutes, in the case of the Emperor penguin. Breeding and Parental Care - Penguins come together in large breeding colonies, called rookeries, with groups of 40,000 or more being common. After the female penguin lays her egg, she passes it to the male. He incubates the egg on his feet and covers it with his brood patch, a bare patch of skin on his belly that allows his body heat to be transferred to the egg. The female then goes out to sea to feed until the egg hatches, leaving the male to care for the egg alone. After the eggs hatch, the female penguins return from the sea. The male penguin transfers the chick from his feet to the female’s, then goes to feed and regain his strength. This transfer must be done quickly, or the chick will freeze. After a few weeks, their coat of fluffy feathers is thick enough to protect them from the cold, and both parents take care of the chicks. Penguin parents are able to locate their chick from among the hundreds or thousands of others by the sound of their voice. After about 2 or 3 months, the chicks molt and their adult feathers come in. They are then able to fend for themselves. Threats - In addition to natural predators (leopard seals, orcas, sharks and skua birds), penguins have other problems that threaten their existence. Historically, penguins have had problems with humans, even though most of their habitat is extremely remote. During the 1800’s, hundreds of thousands were hunted by sailors and explorers for food, fuel, and the commercial value of their skins, oil, and eggs. Penguins are now protected by law from this kind of exploitation. They still face threats from pollution, especially toxins from heavy metals and oil spills, disturbance from mass tourism in Australia, agricultural encroachment of nesting sites in New Zealand, and overfishing of the schools of krill, squid and fish they rely upon for food. What Can I Do? Children should understand that there are many ways that they can help keep planet Earth clean, healthy and full of plants and animals. Education is the first step in preserving this natural wonder. Learn all you can about penguins, polar regions, marine life and the threats they are facing, then educate others. Conserving energy whenever possible reduces global warming and the greenhouse effect. Simple things like turning lights out and furnaces down, taking public transportation, walking or riding bikes, recycling glass and plastic can make a big difference. Not littering is important. Planting a tree with mom and dad can add oxygen to the air we breathe and provide homes for many creatures.
Primary Vocabulary Antarctica - large continent located at the South Pole covered with ice 2 miles thick. blubber - thick layer of fat under the skin brood pouch - patch of bare skin on a penguin’s belly used to cover and incubate their egg(s). camouflage - an organism’s ability to hide or blend visually with its surroundings using color, pattern or shape. countershading - animals that have dark colored backs and light colored bellies. desert - an area that receives very little rainfall (less than 10 inches annually). equator - line of latitude around the center of the globe (0o) where sunlight hits the earth directly all year long; it divides the earth into northern and southern hemispheres. habitat - the place an animal lives. hemisphere - half a globe; the earth is divided into northern and southern hemispheres by the equator. ice floe - seasonal moving ice sheets carried by Antarctic ocean currents. insulation - material such as fur, feathers or fat that helps to prevent heat loss. krill - a small, shrimp-like animal plentiful in Antarctic waters. predator - an animal that kills and often eats other animals. preening - using the beak to clean and spread oil over the feathers to keep them in good condition. prey - an animal that is hunted or killed for food. pack ice - permanent drifting ice sheets between the stable ice of Antarctica and the open ocean. rookery - breeding colony and nesting site where chicks are raised. tobogganing - traveling over land by sliding on the belly while pushing with feet and flippers.
Primary Suggested Reading List Antarctica by Helen Cowcher (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990). The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins (Scholastic Inc., 1999). Far-Fetched Pets: Your Pet Penguin by Bobbie Hamsa (Children’s Press, 1994). Little Penguin by Patrick Benson (Philomel Books, 1990). Little Penguin’s Tale by Audrey Wood (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1989). Looking At Penguins by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (Holiday House, 1993). Mr. Popper’s Penguins: A Pop-Up Book by Richard and Florence Atwater (Little, Brown & Co., 1993). Penguins by Jonathan Chester (Celestial Arts, 1996). See How They Grow: Penguins by Mary Ling (Dorling Kindersley Inc., 1993). Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester (Trumpet Club, 1988). ZooBooks: Penguins by John Wexo (Wildlife Educaton Ltd., 1983).
Teacher Resources Beastly Behaviors by Janine M. Benyus (Addison Wesley, 1992). Penguins (Sea World Inc., 1991). Penguins by Roger Tory Peterson (Houghton Mifflin, 1979). Penguins by John Sparks and Tony Soper (Facts on File Publications, 1987). Penguins: A Worldwide Guide by Rémy Marion (Sterling Publishing, 1995).
Primary Videos Eyewitness: Arctic and Antarctic (Dorling Kindersley Ltd. And BBC Worldwide Americas, 1996). Great information on polar regions in general; lots of Arctic information, but not much on the Antarctic. Good for introducing polar regions. Emperors of Antarctica (Discovery Communications, Inc., 1994). Great information and amazing footage of emperor penguins and how the crew filmed it; graphic footage of breeding and infant mortality may be too much for younger students. King Penguins: Stranded Beyond the Falklands (Survival Angle Ltd., 1988). Great information about king penguins; also includes many references to the Falkland War that may need further explanation. Penguin Odyssey (Marine Mammal Fund, 1988). Outstanding overview of many penguin species; very little narration, but what there is, is good. Perfect for showing the great variety of penguin habitat, behavior, and adaptations and for observing differences in penguin species and habitats.
Web Resources http://kids.discovery.com/cams/penguin.html - Animal Planet Live Penguin Cam www.falklands-nature.demon.co.uk/penguins/pengapp.html - Falkland Islands Conservation http://www.mbaya2.org/efc/efc_fo/peng_sea_athome.asp - Monterey Bay Aquarium Penguin Pages www.neaq.org/learn/bap/rook.html - Be A Penguin Interactive Educational Game Site www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Penguins/home.html - Sea World Penguin Page http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Peter_and_Barbara_Barham/ - Pete and Barb’s Penguin Pages www.terraquest.com/va/index.html - Virtual Antarctica http://dcrafts.com/penguinspoems.htm- Penguin poems and songs www.childfun.com/themes/penguin.shtml - Penguin games and activities
Primary Penguin Tales Pre-Visit Activity Time: one or two 30 minute sessions OBJECTIVES: 4. 7. 4 A Identify differences in living things 4. 7. 4 B Know that adaptations are important for survival. TSW differentiate between fiction and non-fiction. TSW describe penguin adaptations, habitat and behavior. TSW write and illustrate a non-fiction penguin story.
MATERIALS: The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins (or another non-fiction book about penguins), Penguin Paper Pattern, writing paper, pencils, crayons or colored pencils
PROCEDURES: ANTICIPATORY SET: Read The Emperor’s Egg. Is it a true story or make-believe? How can you tell? Introduce the terms “fiction” and “non-fiction” if the students do not already know them. Today they will write their own non-fiction book about penguins.
DEVELOPMENT OF LESSON: 1. Have the students brainstorm the kinds of information their non-fiction story should share about penguins. Write them on the board. They should include habitat, food, movement, how they stay warm, and how they care for their chicks and eggs. 2. Put facts and appropriate adjectives under the headings. Be as thorough as you can. 3. Divide the class into cooperative groups. Assign a topic to each group. They will write about that topic for a group book. Older students may also work independently on one topic or on a book all their own. 4. Have the students use the information on the board to write and illustrate one or two pages about their topic. 5. Have them go through the editing process: rough draft, peer edit, second draft, teacher edit, final draft. 6. Use the penguin paper pattern to trace and cut writing paper for their final draft. You may wish to do this ahead of time for younger students. Older students can do this themselves.
SUMMARY: Assemble the pages into a book and bind or staple together Share the students’ final product with the class. Did they include all the most important facts? Would this help other students learn about penguins? Share the book(s) with another class.
EXTENSIONS: • •
Transfer the story (stories) to a hard-backed blank book. Place it in the school library for everyone to enjoy. Host a Penguin Party! Invite another class and share your penguin stories, poems, and serve some penguin snacks! Have a cool time!
Primary Zoo Scavenger Hunt In-Zoo Activity Time: 45 minutes Grade: 1- 3 Objectives: 3. 1. 4 A Know the similarities and differences of living things. 4. 7. 4 A Identify differences in living things TSW be able to identify at least 3 aquatic animals. TSW be able to identify characteristics of aquatic animals.
MATERIALS: “Scavenger Hunt” sheet, pencils or crayons, clipboards or hard writing surface, blow-up beachball globe
PROCEDURES: ANTICIPATORY SET (1
OF
3):
Before arriving at the zoo, toss the blow-up globe around your classroom for the students to catch. Ask the students to locate an ocean and a continent that touches it, the equator, the Southern Hemisphere, or the South Pole. Continue until each student has a turn.
-OR-
The zoo class, “Penguin Pals,” may be taken prior to the scavenger hunt.
DEVELOPMENT OF LESSON: 1. Remind the students that the oceans are home not only to penguins, but to an enormous variety of other aquatic life as well. They will have the opportunity to see animals that share the same habitat as many of the penguin species they have been learning about. 2. Pair up the students and pass out clipboards and pencils. Depending on the age and level of your students, this activity may be completed without partners. Chaperones may be included in this activity, if appropriate. 3. Starting at the entrance of the Aquarium, give a guided tour of the animals seen at each exhibit. The graphics will help with this or use background information included in this packet. Casually mention in your tour the features on the scavenger hunt the students are searching for. If your class is older or has completed the “Penguin Pals” class, you can make the “hunt” more challenging by not giving “hints” during your tour.
SUMMARY: Discuss the answers with the students at the end of the “hunt,” either in the zoo (at the Plaza for example), or back at your school.
Primary
Aquarium Scavenger Hunt Find an animal that:
1. has stripes like a zebra
2. can camouflage
_______________________________
___________________________________
3. has sharp teeth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
4. has no eyes _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
5. looks like a plant _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
6. has countershading _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Common color pattern of animals dark-colored on the top but light-colored on the bottom.)
7. has tentacles _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
8. lives in warm water _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
9. has whiskers like a cat _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
10. has blubber
_____________________________________
Helpful Hints Teachers: Please include this word bank if the scavenger hunt is too difficult for your students. Hint: The animal can be used more than once.
Cave fish Lionfish Peacock bass
Octopus Penguin
Catfish
Corals
Shark
Jellyfish
Butterfly fish
Pipefish
Primary
Where In the World Are Penguins? Post-Visit Activity Time: 45 minutes Grade: 1 - 3 OBJECTIVES: 4. 6. 4 A Understand that living things are dependent on nonliving things in the environment for survival. TSW identify the equator and the South Pole. TSW identify at least 3 of the Earth’s continents, including Antarctica. TSW recognize the Earth’s oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. TSW locate penguin populations.
MATERIALS: “Where In the World Are Penguins?” map, “Where In the World Are Penguins” information sheet (older students), crayons or markers or pencils, beach-ball globe
PROCEDURES: ANTICIPATORY SET: Have students toss the globe around the room. When a student catches it, ask him or her to locate the equator, the South Pole, one of the planet’s oceans or continents, and/or name a penguin species or other ocean animal. Continue until each student has had a turn.
DEVELOPMENT OF LESSON: 1. Pass out the map. Have students label the oceans and the continents on the map. 2. Have students label the equator and the South Pole on the map. 3. Label the Falkland Islands, Galápagos Islands, and New Zealand. 4. Have younger students color the location of penguin populations all one color so that they may be easily distinguished from the oceans. Older students may use the “Where In the World Are Penguins?” information sheet to locate and color-code the populations of the penguin species listed. Have them create a map key for the penguin populations.
SUMMARY: Discuss with the students which continents have penguin populations. Are the species evenly distributed? Where can you find the penguins that are farthest south? The farthest north? Which penguins are found in several places? Which are found in just one place?
Primary
Where In the World Are Penguins? Information Page There are 17 species of penguins. All of them are found in the Southern Hemisphere. Read about these five penguins and find their homes on the map.
EMPEROR
PENGUINS - These are the largest penguins and stand about 4 feet tall.
They are found on and around the continent of Antarctica.
FAIRY PENGUINS - Also known as Little Blue penguins, these are the smallest penguins and have blue-gray feathers. They are found along the coasts of Australia and New Zealand.
GALÁPAGOS PENGUINS - These penguins live in the warmest climate and make their nests in underground burrows to beat the heat. They are found right along the equator on the coast of the Galápagos Islands.
BLACK-FOOTED
PENGUINS - These penguins are famous for their calls that sound like
a donkey braying. They are found along the southern coast of Africa.
MAGELLANIC
PENGUINS - These penguins were named for the explorer Ferdinand
Magellan, whose 1519 expedition was the first to tell about them. They are found along the southern coast of South America.
