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Penguin Unit and Craft Ideas for Elementary Teachers in 2025

You guys. I now know A LOT about penguins. I spent the entire winter break researching and creating a HUGE printable resource packet. It is jam-packed with standards-based penguin activities for all subject areas. You are going to love this penguin unit! And now if I ever find myself on Jeopardy, I’m hoping the final category is “Birds from the Southern Hemisphere” because I could answer anything.

I have to say the time invested was worth it. The kids were engaged throughout this unit. It has been great to see them applying their reading and writing strategies in a way they enjoy.

Penguin units are plentiful in classrooms across the country in January. However, those classrooms usually fall into the primary category. I’m so proud of this packet because it takes all the fun of those cute black and white little waddlers and kicks it up a few notches with content for bigger kids, too.

Learn more about my two week interdisciplinary penguin unit below!

A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.

What Grades is this Penguin Unit Appropriate For?

This integrated penguin unit includes differentiated materials so you can use it with second, third, fourth, and fifth grade students. There are different templates to choose from, which allows you to differentiate with ease.

Get the Penguin Unit!

What is Included in this Penguin Unit?

This integrated penguin unit includes the following components:

Introductory Activities

This penguin unit includes several resources to help you kick off your unit including:

  • Penguin package activator activity
  • Penguin diagram
  • Schema chart
  • K-W-L chart

Reading Activities

This penguin resource includes the following penguin-themed reading activities

  • Can Have Are interactive reading printables
  • Leveled reading passages
  • Close reading written response sheets
  • Venn diagram chart
  • Non-fiction penguin Thinkmark
  • Mr. Popper’s Penguins fiction Thinkmark

Writing Activities

The following emperor penguin research printables are included:

  • Cover sheet
  • Two-column notes
  • Criteria for success scoring sheet
  • Draft paper
  • Final copy paper
  • Report cover sheet
  • Table of contents page for student report
  • Glossary template

Word Study Activities

The following penguin-themed word study activities are included:

  • Making words activity (Emperor Penguin)
  • Penguin Verbs (past tense)
  • Penguin Nouns (plurals)
  • Parts of Speech Penguin Activity
  • Penguin Dictionary Skills
  • Penguin Collective Nouns
  • Alphabetizing Penguin Species

Math Games

The following penguin-themed math games are included:

Multiplication

  • Direction Sheet Printables
  • ORCA
  • Penguin Bump
  • Polar Opposites
  • Go Fish!
  • Antarctic Freeze

Addition

  • Direction Sheet Printables
  • ORCA
  • Penguin Bump
  • Polar Opposites
  • Go Fish!
  • Antarctic Freeze

Science Activities

The following penguin-themed science activities are included:

  • Blubber Glove (Understanding How Penguins Stay Warm)
  • Penguin Feathers (Understanding How Penguins Stay Dry)

Social Studies Activities

The following penguin-themed social studies activities are included:

  • All About Antarctica

Social Skills Activities

The following penguin-themed social skills activities are included:

  • Writing Activity and Penguin Craft to Use with the books, It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr and/or Pink! by Lynne Rickard.

Crafts

Samples of penguin themed crafts are included.

Additional Teaching Resources

Additional teaching resources in the resource include:

  • Online Video Links to Stream
  • Fiction Books
  • Non-Fiction Books
A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
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A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
BUY NOWBUY NOW
A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
BUY NOWBUY NOW
A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
BUY NOWBUY NOW
A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
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Why do Teachers Love this Penguin Unit Resource?

This resource is a big hit among elementary teachers! They love this penguin packet because it…

  • promotes student engagement because of the high-interest topic
  • guides students through the writing process
  • includes differentiated materials so you can meet the needs of all of your students
  • facilities a fun learning experience for students in the month of January
  • offers students a break from your formal curriculum program which often includes structured, predictable formats
  • requires little prep
  • is not holiday specific so all students can connect with and enjoy the lessons and activities
  • provides students with practice opportunities for essential grade level concepts and skills

How to Use this Penguin Unit in your Classroom

You have the flexibility to implement the full unit or choose parts of the unit depending on your goals.

Kids LOVE Penguins! This 100+ page penguin-themed packet has enough quality printables to last for over 2 full weeks of instruction. There are activities for reading, writing, math, science, social skills, and more. The packet also includes a list of fiction and non-fiction penguin themed books, links to online videos, and sample penguin crafts. The crafts and videos are students” favorites!

Everything has been done for you. All you need to do is add literature. I used my local library to gather over 50 books. In addition, I printed individual student books free using a trial membership on the Reading A to Z website.

A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.

Penguin Craft Ideas

Here are some penguin craft ideas that are perfect for elementary students:

Get All of the Penguin Activities

Check out all of the penguin activities for elementary students below!

penguin worksheets penguin color by code activity penguin reading comprehension activities
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Penguin book bundle penguin printable activities Penguin-themed would you rather questions
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penguin close reading activities penguin writing project Penguin activities
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A penguin unit study integrates reading books, animal research, writing reports, science and more. Kids love learning penguin facts and teachers love the easy lesson plans, cute bulletin boards, hands on projects, and printables from Clutter Free Classroom. The bundle includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, book lists, science ideas, word study, math centers and games, and more.
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