Operation: Penguin Project

The first big project that the 1st Graders look forward to completing is the "Penguin Project."  This is a project-based learning assignment, meaning it's an "approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges. With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying."  (That was compliments of Andrew Swickheimer, CETL.......more on that acronym later.)

All week, the students learned about penguins: their environment, their habitat, characteristics, mating habits, etc.  They had a packet of information that they had to fill out at home, through research on the Internet or other sources.  They also had to create a model penguin.  The students could choose from a handful of different types of penguins: Adelie, African, Emperor, King, Little, Macaroni, Snares, Yellow-Eyed.....who knew there were so many different types?!?  

Emma's choice?  The Emperor Penguin.

Why?  Because it's the biggest and the best, of course.

The finished product. 

Paper maching the penguin

Emma's favorite part: the painting!!!!!