Penguins

This waddling extravaganza is jam packed with FUN! Use this bundle to explore fiction and nonfiction reading strategies and skills while learning about penguins. It includes comprehension guides, reading response sheets, language arts printables, writing activities, penguin glyph, penguin craftivity/hat, penguin web quest, research projects, and so much more!!

*This unit was created by and aligned with the common core standards. Look closely at the description and preview!!!

Inside you will find…

A Book About Penguins – A nonfiction book/PowerPoint presentation

Reading Comprehension Guides

-Tacky The Penguin by Helen Lester – Comprehension Packet {predictions, vocabulary, word work (abc order, syllables, correct the sentence), 4 comprehension questions, character traits}

-The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins – Comprehension Packet {surveying the book, vocabulary, word work (shades of meaning, syllables), comprehension questions, making connections}

-Penguins by Gail Gibbons – Comprehension Packet {forming questions, vocabulary, comprehension questions, word work (abc order, rhyming words, beginning sounds, classifying words)}

-Eve of the Emperor Penguin by Mary Pope Osborne – Chapter by chapter comprehension guide (Perfect for guided reading groups)

-Student Cover Sheet

-Chapter 1-2 vocabulary, 5 comprehension questions, fact and opinion

-Chapter 3-4 vocabulary, 5 comprehension questions, contractions

-Chapter 5-6 vocabulary, 6 comprehension questions, cause and effect, making predictions, character traits

-Chapter 7-8 vocabulary, 5 comprehension questions, syllables

-Chapter 9-10 vocabulary, 4 comprehension questions, making connections

-Answer Key

Reading Response Sheets

-Fact/Fiction Response Sheet – I always begin my penguin unit by reading Tacky the Penguin and completing this fact/fiction sheet. This cute story always sparks curiosity about penguins. Students learn that although the book is fiction, they can still learn real facts about penguins.

-Character Traits Response Sheet – Tacky books are perfect for analyzing characters!

-Character Comparison Response Sheet

-Character Change Response Sheet

-Penguins Can/Have/Are/Need

-Visual Images Response Sheet

-Making Connections Response Sheet

-Making Inferences Response Sheet

-SQ3R Reading Response Sheet - While using this strategy, students will need to survey the book and then form questions to guide their reading. After reading the book to the class, I usually let my students pair up and retell the story to a friend. We then get back together and I show each page of the book to allow time for students to determine if they left anything important out of their retelling.

Penguin Glyph – Patterns, pictures, graph, and graph questions included.

Writing and Research

-Penguin Web Quest – Use the QR code or use the link to research penguins.

-Penguin Web, Four Square, Writing Paper – After reading/researching penguins students can write an informational piece about penguins.

-Penguin Research Graphic Organizer – Students can research a specific penguin species and use the graphic organizer to write an informative writing piece. (I plan to let my students work with partners to gather research!)

-Writing Paper

-Penguin Page Topper and/or hat – Display student writing with this quick and easy penguin craftivity. The penguin pattern could also be glued to a sentence strip to make a cute hat!

Language Arts Printables

-Fact and Opinion – Students cut and sort fact and opinions.

-Statement or Question – Students cut and sort statements and questions.

-Correct the sentences – Students write sentences correctly (commas in a list, commas in dates, proper nouns, punctuation).

-Unscramble the Sentences – Students unscramble words to make sentences.

-Expand the Sentences – Add adjectives to expand sentences.

-Common and Proper Nouns – Students cut and sort common and proper nouns using a flap book.

-Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives – Cut and sort nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

-Phoneme /aw/ word sort (includes graphemes aw, au, all, wa, ough) – Students cut and sort by spelling pattern.

Table Headers and Desk Name Plates {Editable}

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