| Penguins have always been an interest to preschool | | | | animal as well if you have one) around to the children |
| children. The distinctive penguin waddle is a sight to | | | | and ask them to describe the colors and |
| see as well as their characteristic tuxedo type body. | | | | characteristics of penguins. Finish this activity by having |
| Penguins are so popular with preschool children that | | | | the children waddle around the classroom and pretend |
| the "March of the Penguins" movie was a huge | | | | they are penguins during dramatic play. |
| success. Therefore, penguin preschool activities are | | | | Tracing Animal Shapes |
| sure to hit a high note with preschool children. | | | | The second of the penguin preschool activities involves |
| Penguin preschool activities are fun to do in the winter | | | | tracing animal shapes. The children will create penguin |
| when there is snow on the ground, but can be done | | | | pictures of their own while working on the fine motor |
| anytime of the year. Read on to learn about two | | | | skills involved in tracing. You will need the following |
| penguin preschool activities that are a waddling good | | | | materials for this penguin preschool activity: tracing |
| time. | | | | paper, pencils, crayons and pictures of penguins to use |
| Learn About Penguins | | | | as tracing guides. |
| The first of the penguin preschool activities is to learn | | | | Begin the activity by asking preschool children if they |
| about penguins by reading a penguin story and having | | | | have ever drawn a penguin. What does a penguin look |
| the preschool children act as penguins in dramatic play. | | | | like? Pass out the tracing paper, pencils, crayons, and |
| You will need the following materials for this penguin | | | | pictures of penguins. |
| preschool activity: the book "Penguin Pete" by Marcus | | | | Demonstrate how to place the tracing paper on the |
| Pfister and pictures of penguin clipped from magazines | | | | penguin picture and trace along the lines of the penguin |
| such as National Geographic. | | | | body. Show the preschool children how to color the |
| It may be helpful to find a stuffed animal penguin as | | | | parts of the penguin body that should be black. Allow |
| well to allow the children to have a closer, hands-on | | | | the children to work on tracing. Have the children name |
| look at penguins. | | | | their penguins. Post the penguin pictures around the |
| Begin this penguin preschool activity by having the | | | | classroom or on the refrigerator at home. |
| preschool children sit on the floor ready for story time. | | | | An optional activity would be to watch the highly |
| Waddle into the story circle. The children may laugh or | | | | popular "March of the Penguins" movie during class |
| ask why you are waddling. Have them guess why you | | | | time. It may be difficult to keep the attention of the |
| are waddling. | | | | preschool children for very long, so you can watch |
| Explain that this is how penguins walk. Ask the | | | | snippets of the movie from time to time. |
| preschool children what they know about penguins. | | | | You can also pause the movie and discuss various |
| Where do penguins live? Why do penguins waddle? | | | | facts about penguins. You could have the "March of |
| Read the book "Penguin Pete" to the preschool | | | | the Penguins" as a Friday movie treat and consume |
| children allowing them to ask questions during the | | | | popcorn and healthy snacks while watching the movie. |
| reading. | | | | The preschool children will love to "go to the movies" in |
| Pass pictures of penguins (and the penguin stuffed | | | | their very home classroom or home. |