First-graders learn all there is to know about these creatures from the South Pole.
By: Sarah Winkelman
Penguins may all look the same, but did you know there are 17 different kinds of penguins?
If you’re a first-grader at Cambridge school you do. That’s because the first grade recently learned all about the fish-eating, ice-loving creatures of the South Pole as part of their winter science unit.
Not only did the students learn the difference between real penguins versus those they see in cartoons, do penguin homework, draw pictures of penguins and make penguins out of clay, they also went to Jenkinson’s Aquarium in Point Pleasant Beach on Jan. 27 to see real, live penguins up close and personal.
Lois Samelson, a first-grade teacher, said the class learned that real penguins are birds even though they don’t fly and they live in Antarctica while imaginary penguins wear clothes, sing songs and talk like humans.
She also said the four first-grade classes did various penguin-related projects like making penguins out of clay, painting murals of penguins in their natural habitats and constructing dioramas and trioramas. They also took pictures at the aquarium and are writing about the experiences in their journals.
Marley Cohen said she had a great time at the aquarium.
"We saw penguins just playing with each other," she said.
According to Kevin McCoy, a very amusing thing happened while the students were at the aquarium.
"They took a penguin out to show us in a special room and it pooped on the floor," he said.
The kids said they had already learned a lot about penguins before going to the aquarium. Sam Schwartz said he knew penguins don’t fly but they are still birds. He also said penguins can’t speak like people do.
"There are 17 different kinds of penguins and they like eating fish guts," Kevin said.
Justin said penguin mothers feed their babies krill, which Marley said was like shrimp. Justin also said penguins live on rocks and in the water.
"They build their nest on rocks and lay eggs there, but they catch food in the water," Marley said.
All the students agreed that a penguin would absolutely not make a good pet.
Maureen Canonico, another first-grade teacher, said students in her class have been working in small groups in the library studying five of the 17 different kinds of penguins, specifically the adelie, gentoo, chinstrap, macaroni and emperor penguins.
"There is a Web site the kids use where you can click on the different types of penguins and read about them," she said. "The student also do work online such as printing out a penguin coloring book, doing word searches and puzzles, reading jokes, doing science activities and taking a quiz about penguins."