The Penguin Mothers’ Return
In The Penguin Mothers’ Return, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how female penguins return from the sea with bellies full of food for their newly hatched chicks. The male penguins pass over the chicks and head to the ocean to fill their bellies, while the chicks get their first taste of food from the sea. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Dynasties, a documentary that follows endangered species fighting for their survival.
Lesson Express
Q: What do you notice about how penguins move? Why might penguins choose to move using one method or the other?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may notice that some penguins slide on their bellies while some waddle.
Q: What does the mother penguin feed her chick?
A: It feeds the chick regurgitated or partially digested food.
Q: How does this parenting arrangement benefit each penguin involved?
A: Students may talk about how the penguins can take turns eating and meeting their needs while the other watches the chick.
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