ARCTIC ADVENTURE 
*Even though penguins live south of the equator, I include them in my Arctic unit. I show the students a globe, point out both Antarctica and the Arctic, and show them where penguins live.
Bulletin Board Ideas:
1. "Kindergarten Arctic Adventure"
Students wrote facts about the Arctic on sentence strips.
2. "Slidding Into Learning"- Decorate with penguins.
3. "Polar Animals" - I introduce the unit by showing pictures of polar animals and asking students to identify them.
BOOKS:
Cuddly Dudley by Jez Alborough
Sailing Off to Sleep by Linda Ashman
Penelope Penguin: The Incredibly Good Baby by John Bianci
The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale by Lydia Dabcovich
Aurora: A Tale of the Northern Lights by Mindy Dwyer
Sweet Dreams, Polar Bear by Mindy Dwyer
Penguins by Gail Gibbons
Far North in the Arctic: Counting Alaska’a Animals
by Cory Hansen
Pipaluk and the Whales by John Himmelaman
The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Busy Penguins by John Schindel
Tundra Discoveries by Ginger Wadsworth
Little Penguin’s Tale by Audrey Wood
Welcome to the Ice House by Jane Yolen
POEMS AND SONGS:
"Polar Bear"
("My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" tune)
The polar bear lives in Alaska.
He never gets cold in a storm.
He swims in icy, cold water.
His heavy coat keeps him warm.
Warm, warm, warm, warm,
His heavy coat keeps him warm.
“I’m a Little Penguin”
(“I’m a Little Teapot” tune)
I’m a little penguin
Black and white.
Stout and fluffy.
What a sight!
I can’t fly
But I love to swim.
So I’ll waddle to the water
And dive right in!
“I Know a Little Penguin”
(“I’m a Little Teapot” tune)
I know a little penguin
Who sat on some blocks.
He swam in the ocean
And he climbed on some rocks.
He snapped at a seagull.
He snapped at a seal.
He snapped at a fish.
Oh, what a meal!
MATH:
1. Patterns- create color patterns on each Eskimo’s jacket using buttons.
2. Counting- Children place the correct number of
penguins on each paper plate iceberg
according to the number written on it.
-Children place the correct number
of ice blocks (sugar cubes) on each
igloo according to the number written
on it.
- Children place the correct number of
Swedish fish on each penguin's tummy
according to the number written on
it.
3. Measure a cut-out of an Emperor penguin
(3 feet, 9 inches) using blocks.
Science:
1. Have students try to balance a plastic egg on their feet the way an Emperor Penguin father holds his eggs. (I attached paper beaks using tape.)
2. Create an iceberg by filling ziplock
bag almost to the top with water. Leave an inch or so of air space above the water so the ice can expand. Close with twist tie and freeze.Have students predict what will happen when you place iceberg in pan of water. Have students observe what happens.
3. Demonstrate purpose of camoflage by placing polar bear pattern first on black paper and then on white paper.
4. Make Arctic Blizzards by blending vanilla icecream, milk, and whipped cream.
5. Arctic scene in Science Center- I created the arctic scene for the children to play with by covering a piece of cardboard with white paper, cottonball snow, styrofoam bowl igloo, and an aluminium foil ice pond. I added Eskimo dolls and toy arctic animals.
6. Penguin Cookies- Twist off top of Oreo and cut in half. Use halves as penguin wings. Use Hershey Kiss as penguin head. Use white and orange decorating gel to make eyes, beak, and feet.
7. Watch penguins on a webcam at
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_splash/splash_cam.aspx
ART:
1. Footprint penguin- Children trace footprint on to black construction paper and cut out. Children paint inside white. Add wiggly eyes, orange beak, and wings. Glue penguin on to blue paper and paint snowflakes around penguin using fingerprints.
2.Penguin Craft
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mpenguin.html
3.Paper bag walrus- Students cut out pattern of walrus head and body. Glue head above paper bag fold and body under fold.
4.Polar Bear- Cut out polar bear pattern and glue on to blue construction paper. Draw a face on bear. Glue cottonballs on to bear's body to represent fur and around bear to represent falling snow.
5. Make igloo using sugar cubes.
4. Eskimos- Children cut out face and hood pattern and glue on paper bag. Children line bottom of bag with cottonball "fur". Children color mittens.
5. Make totem pole by having each student decorate a box to represent an animal.
6. Penguin on an iceberg- Color and cut out penguin pattern and glue on popsicle stick. Turn styrofoam cup upside down and push bottom of popsicle stick through it... Penguin is now on the "iceberg".
