Journey to Antarctica: A Penguin Study
BBC Antarctica Lesson Collection
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Compare and contrast their knowledge about Antarctica with what can be learned by seeing it with their own eyes through a BBC video clip;
• Analyze BBC video clips and internet sources to learn more about a specific penguin species;
• Create a research journal page that shares their observations
Resources for This Lesson
In Discoveries at the South Pole, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how scientists on Antarctica work to learn about the atmosphere, how volcanoes influence the air we breathe, about cosmic rays that are just reaching Earth, and what the interior of Antarctica is made of. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In A Crowded Colony of King Penguins, explore the remarkable life of the king penguins on South Georgia Island. Amid half a million birds, chicks must stay put to be found by their returning parents who rely on unique calls to reunite. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In An Emperor Penguin Feeding Frenzy, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how emperor penguin mothers return from the ocean with food for their chicks. Some return to find their chicks well-protected, and others return to disappointment. When spring comes to Antarctica, the Adélie penguins arrive on the ice and the emperor penguins take to the ocean to start a spring feeding frenzy. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Adélie Penguin Chicks Competition, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how penguin chicks huddle together for warmth as they wait for their parents to bring them food. When the parent penguins arrive, it’s a feeding frenzy, and not every chick will get enough to eat. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
Have each student select a penguin species to research and synthesize their notes by creating a research journal page.
In Discoveries at the South Pole, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how scientists on Antarctica work to learn about the atmosphere, how volcanoes influence the air we breathe, about cosmic rays that are just reaching Earth, and what the interior of Antarctica is made of. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In A Crowded Colony of King Penguins, explore the remarkable life of the king penguins on South Georgia Island. Amid half a million birds, chicks must stay put to be found by their returning parents who rely on unique calls to reunite. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In An Emperor Penguin Feeding Frenzy, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how emperor penguin mothers return from the ocean with food for their chicks. Some return to find their chicks well-protected, and others return to disappointment. When spring comes to Antarctica, the Adélie penguins arrive on the ice and the emperor penguins take to the ocean to start a spring feeding frenzy. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Adélie Penguin Chicks Competition, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how penguin chicks huddle together for warmth as they wait for their parents to bring them food. When the parent penguins arrive, it’s a feeding frenzy, and not every chick will get enough to eat. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
Have each student select a penguin species to research and synthesize their notes by creating a research journal page.
Teaching the Lesson
Engage
1. Start the lesson by asking your students to imagine that they are stepping into the boots of research scientists in Antarctica, who are trying to learn more about the lives of penguins!
2. Make a T-chart on the board. Title it “Describing Antarctica” and label the left column: “What We Imagine.” Then encourage students to brainstorm how they would describe this continent. What do they think it looks like? What do they think it feels like? As your class brainstorms, write their ideas on the left side of your T-chart.
3. Then prepare to show the Antarctic Research Station video from BBC’s Frozen Planet. Before you play the video:
○ Explain that the video is about to show first-hand what this continent is like!
○ As your students watch, they should look and listen for more details to answer the question: How would you describe Antarctica?
4. When the video is complete, label the right side of your T-chart: “What We Observed.” Ask your students to again share how they would describe this continent and record their descriptions.
5. Then invite your students to compare and contrast the descriptions that they put on either side of the T-chart. Ask:
○ What do you notice about the descriptions on the two sides?
○ Which side is more detailed?
○ Is it helpful to actually be in a place to learn more about it? Why?
Analyze
1. Explain to your class that now that they have “traveled” to Antarctica, it’s time to begin their penguin research!
2. Share the Penguin Choice printable, and explain that each student will choose one type of penguin to observe and learn more about: Adélie Penguins, King Penguins, or Emperor Penguins.
3. Get your students ready for their research by doing the following:
○ Hand out a My Penguin activity sheet to each student.
○ Go over the directions on the sheet together.
○ Be sure your students understand that they will be watching a video about this type of penguin as they pretend they are observing them in real life!
○ Answer any questions, and then encourage them to begin their research.
Collaboration & Create
1. Once your students have completed their research, explain that one way to share scientific information is by creating research journal articles. Research journals are like magazines that scientists use to share their research findings with each other.
2. Pass out the Research Spotlight sheet to your students.!
Tip: Students may rewatch their penguin video if they need to collect additional research.
5. As the session wraps up, have your students display their Research Spotlight sheets around the classroom. Then encourage everyone to walk around and check out each other’s work.
6. Finally, bring the class together and ask your research scientists to share one question they still have about penguins and why finding the answer would help them understand penguins better!
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