Penguins are fascinating creatures that capture the imagination of both children and adults alike.
With their adorable waddling walk, tuxedo-like markings, and unique behaviors, penguins are a popular topic for preschoolers to explore.
Incorporating penguins into learning activities is a great way to engage young children in fun and educational experiences.
In this blog post, we’ll share exciting penguin activities for preschoolers.
Penguin Finger Painting
Preschoolers love getting messy with paint, and penguin finger painting is a fun way to combine their love of art with learning about these cute flightless birds. Provide your little ones with black and white paint, as well as orange paint for the beak and feet. Have them dip their fingers in the paint and make penguin prints on paper. Once the paint has dried, help them add eyes and other features to complete their penguin masterpiece.
Penguin Waddle Relay Race
This is a fun activity that will help preschoolers burn off some energy while learning about how penguins waddle. Divide the children into teams and have them line up at one end of the room. Each team member must waddle like a penguin to the other end of the room and back before tagging the next team member to do the same. The team that finishes first wins the race.
Related: 20 Amazing St. Patricks Day Activities for Toddlers
Penguin Science Experiment
Preschoolers love hands-on learning, and this penguin science experiment is a fun way to teach them about buoyancy. Fill a clear plastic container with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring to make it look like the ocean. Have the children create penguin cutouts and attach them to paper clips. Then, have them drop the penguin cutouts into the water and observe how they float. Explain to them that penguins have a special layer of fat that helps them stay buoyant in the water.
Penguin Dance Party
Preschoolers love to dance, and a penguin dance party is a fun way to get them moving and learning at the same time. Play music that has a waddling beat, and encourage the children to dance like penguins. You can also teach them the “Penguin Dance” song, which has simple lyrics and dance moves that preschoolers will love.
Penguin Snack Time
Preschoolers love snack time, and this penguin-themed snack is sure to be a hit. Provide each child with a rice cake, cream cheese, sliced black olives, and a carrot stick. Have the children spread the cream cheese on the rice cake and use the olives and carrot sticks to create a penguin face. This snack is not only cute but also healthy and delicious.
Related: 20 Easy Open Ended Preschool Art Activities
Penguin Puppets
Preschoolers love using their imaginations, and creating penguin puppets is a great way to encourage creativity. Provide each child with a paper plate, black and white construction paper, glue, and popsicle sticks. Have them create their own penguin puppet by cutting out the penguin’s body and wings from construction paper and gluing it to the paper plate. Once the glue has dried, attach a popsicle stick to the back of the plate and let the children put on a puppet show.
Penguin Memory Game
Memory games are a great way to improve cognitive skills and memory retention in preschoolers. Create a penguin memory game by printing out pictures of different penguin species and cutting them into cards. Mix up the cards and lay them face down on a table. Have the children take turns flipping over two cards at a time, trying to find matching pairs of penguins. The child with the most pairs at the end of the game wins.
Penguin Obstacle Course
Obstacle courses are a fun way to improve motor skills and coordination in preschoolers. Create a penguin-themed obstacle course by setting up various challenges that the children must complete, such as waddling like a penguin through cones, sliding on their bellies through a tunnel, and jumping over “icebergs” (pillows). Time each child as they complete the obstacle course and see who can finish the fastest.
Penguin Story Time
Reading stories to preschoolers is a great way to encourage a love of books and learning. Choose penguin-themed books, such as “Tacky the Penguin” by Helen Lester or “Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere!” by Bob Barner. After reading the story, have a discussion with the children about the story’s themes and characters, and encourage them to share their own thoughts and ideas.
Penguin Sensory Bin
Sensory bins are a fun way for preschoolers to explore different textures and materials. Create a penguin-themed sensory bin by filling a plastic container with white rice and adding black and white penguin figurines, blue plastic gems to represent water, and ice cube trays filled with frozen water. Encourage the children to explore the sensory bin with their hands, and talk to them about the different materials and textures they are experiencing.
Penguin Yoga
Yoga is a great way for preschoolers to improve flexibility, balance, and coordination. Create a penguin yoga session by guiding the children through different poses that mimic penguins, such as the penguin waddle pose, the penguin slide pose, and the penguin flippers pose. Encourage the children to make penguin sounds as they move through the poses, and see who can hold each pose for the longest time.
Penguin Bowling
Bowling is a fun and active game that preschoolers love. Create a penguin-themed bowling game by using white plastic cups as the pins and adding penguin faces with black construction paper and orange paper triangles for beaks. Have the children roll a small ball toward the pins and see who can knock down the most pins.
Penguin Science Observation
Preschoolers love exploring and observing the world around them. Create a penguin science observation station by providing a variety of penguin items, such as penguin books, penguin figurines, and penguin stuffed animals. Encourage the children to make observations about the different penguin items, such as their size, color, and texture, and ask them questions about what they notice.
Penguin Math Game
Math games are a fun way for preschoolers to learn and practice basic math skills. Create a penguin math game by using penguin-shaped cutouts and writing numbers on them. Have the children take turns picking up a penguin cutout and counting the number of fish on the penguin’s belly. They can then place the penguin cutout on a larger penguin cutout with the corresponding number written on it.
Penguin Iceberg Painting
Preschoolers love painting and creating artwork. Create a penguin iceberg painting activity by providing the children with blue construction paper and white paint. Have the children use a paintbrush to create an iceberg shape on the paper and then add penguin footprints or penguin figures with black paint. This activity also provides an opportunity to talk about penguin habitats and how they live on and around icebergs in the wild.
Penguin Dance Party
Music and movement are great ways for preschoolers to improve coordination and gross motor skills. Create a penguin dance party by playing penguin-themed songs, such as “Waddle Waddle” by The Wiggles or “Penguin Cha Cha” by The Kiboomers. Encourage the children to dance like penguins by waddling, sliding, and flapping their arms like wings.
Penguin Habitat Diorama
Preschoolers love creating dioramas and miniature worlds. Create a penguin habitat diorama by providing a shoebox, blue construction paper, white cotton balls for snow, and penguin figurines. Have the children create a penguin habitat by gluing the construction paper and cotton balls inside the shoebox to create a snowy landscape. They can then add the penguin figurines to create a realistic and imaginative diorama.
Penguin Ice Fishing
Fishing games are a fun way for preschoolers to improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Create a penguin ice fishing game by using blue play dough as the “water” and adding penguin figurines and fish-shaped cutouts. Have the children use a plastic fishing rod or a toothpick to catch the fish and see who can catch the most fish.
Penguin Tic Tac Toe
Tic Tac Toe is a classic game that preschoolers love. Create a penguin-themed Tic Tac Toe game by drawing a large Tic Tac Toe grid on a piece of paper and using penguin-shaped cutouts as the game pieces. The children can take turns placing their penguin game pieces on the grid and trying to get three in a row.
Penguin Ice Skating
Ice skating is a fun winter activity that preschoolers can enjoy indoors. Create a penguin ice skating activity by using socks as “ice skates” and adding penguin stickers to the socks. Have the children put on their penguin socks and practice ice skating on a smooth surface, such as a linoleum floor. This activity provides an opportunity to talk about penguins and how they slide on their bellies on ice and snow.
