Back in January our third graders began a special research project in the library with my wonderful student teacher, Miss Hurley. (We miss her so much!) The students followed the Big6 research model to explore the roles of the different members of an Emperor penguin community (which is called a "rookery"). You can read about the beginning of the project by
clicking here!
One topic we covered was about being careful not to write anything in their notes that they didn't understand. For example, several of the students had recorded that the female penguins "regurgitate" their food in order to feed their babies. When asked, most of them couldn't explain what that meant. As you will see from their writing, the discussion we had about it made quite an impact! :)
Once the students finished recording their facts on their note sheets, they each wrote a journal entry from the point of view of a penguin! The students were encouraged to be imaginative while also sharing the information they had learned.
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| The students are finishing up their journal entries and have begun sharing them with the rest of their class. |
Can you guess whether the following journals were written from the point of view of a mother, father, or baby penguin? Double-click on the blank box at the end of each entry to reveal the answer!
I'm born! My mother just came back with some food that she will regurgitate to me because I'm starving. My father was keeping me on his feet while my mother was away. In my rookery, some take turns moving out into the brutal cold, while others take turns in warmth. Yum, I just at some delicious fish! I'm so glad that I'm in the warmth with my mother and father! In a couple days, I will go into the cold with my mom and dad, where they will teach me how to get food! Someday, I hope to be a father.
(I am a baby penguin!)
-written by Nathan, 3V
Today was calming, magical, and imaginative and it is because
today we took turns moving inside groups protected from cold winds.
Also today I had to go hunting for squid and fish in our icy harsh
environment. I went hunting while the father penguin kept the baby penguin warm under his flap of fur. I
think today was also a dangerous experience because a leopard seal
found us. Today when I came back from hunting I fed my baby from my
throat. I think today was a great adventure in the icy seas. I think
to have this experience in my life was a great way to overcome some of
my fears.
(I am a mother penguin!)
-written by Anabelle, 3B
Today I was warm because I got to be inside the rookery for a long time. The way the rookery works is we take turns moving inside it then we go to the outside to give the other penguins a turn. I am going to have a sister or brother soon but it's still in its egg. My father balances the egg on his feet then he covers it with a brood pouch to keep it warm. My mother catches krill, squid and fish which she regurgitates into my mouth. It is fun to be a penguin.
(I am a baby penguin!)
-written by Everett, 3V
Hmm...I am hungry because I have been standing here all day! My
wife went to get food. I can't wait for my turn to go to the water.
Then I can get revenge on her by taking a long time! One time I had
almost gotten eaten by a seal. It is a good thing I survived!
(I am a father penguin!)
-written by Hector, 3V
Today was the most exciting day in my life! I hatched from my egg. Finally I'm born! But wait, where's Mom? Dad told me where Mom is. She is out to sea. I miss my Mom a lot, but I have my Dad to take care of me. I eat by Mom dropping food in my mouth.
(I am a baby penguin!)
-written by Kylee, 3B
Today there was an extremely bad blizzard. I was scared. We all took turns moving inside our penguin community to stay protected from the cold winds. Sometimes it gets cold like this but I adapt to the weather. After the storm I took off for my fabulous journey to the sea. My husband carefully balanced my egg on his two feet. Three weeks later I returned with food. I saw my baby penguin and named him Leo.
(I am a mommy penguin!)
-written by Haiden, 3B
I care for the egg for two months with my feathered skin. We all take turns moving inside the group to be protected from the cold and wind. We like to eat krill, squid and fish - yum! Seals, killer whales, and sharks love to eat us.
(I am a father penguin!)
-written by Nick F., 3V
Yesterday was a scary day. There was a very cold storm. The other penguins and I had to go into the rookery. We took turns moving inside. I was nervous that I would freeze! But luckily we went in a group. When I was in the egg I was nervous that I would fall out when Dad isn't looking and freeze to death! Also, I was nervous when Mom went into the water. I didn't want Mom to get hurt. None of that stuff happened, which was good. When Mom came back she had food and fed me.
(I am a baby penguin!)
-written by Zander, 3B
It's a big day today. My mommy goes and gets me food while daddy takes care of me for about two months! My daddy covers my egg up with his nice and cozy brood pouch. My family and friends stay protected in the rookery by clumping together in huge, huddled masses and take turns moving inside the circle. My prey is krill, squid and fish. My favorite is squid: yummy in my tummy! Also my predators are leopard seals, killer whales, and sharks. My scariest predator is the killer whale but my mom and dad say that "they're nothing to worry about" and "we will protect you from danger".
(I am a baby penguin!)
-written by Katelyn, 3V
One day the wife left to go get food for our baby. Then I stayed with the egg. I care for my egg by putting it on my feet. Also in the rookery we stay protected from cold winds. Then when my wife comes home she feeds the baby by throwing up fish in his mouth.
(I am a father penguin!)
-written by Gary, 3B
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| These three students sit at the same table and decided to write their journals as though they belonged to the same penguin family! |
One topic we covered was about being careful not to write anything in their notes that they didn't understand. For example, several of the students had recorded that the female penguins "regurgitate" their food in order to feed their babies. When asked, most of them couldn't explain what that meant. As you will see from their writing, the discussion we had about it made quite an impact! :)
While the nominee list is selected by adults, the recipient of the award
is selected by students! All students in grades 3-6 in Rhode Island
are eligible to vote for the winner. These fourth graders filled out their ballots back in February. (To learn more about the award and to see the complete voting results, please visit http://www.ri.net/RIEMA/bookaward.html.) 
Hmm...someone was up to some mischief this afternoon. When Mrs. Bartkiewicz stopped by to say hello to the Cat in the Hat at the end of lunch, he was gone! Instead she found Frog wearing a red and white striped hat. He had a Frog and Toad book in his hands, and inside was another clue: "I told Cat in the Hat to get a drink. He was complaining he was thirsty!"
But there’s more! Not
only are the insects on display in the library, but we also created a Photo
Story video for each class! Each student
got to record his/her own sentence for the video and the whole class worked
together for the final slide. This week
the project was finally complete and both classes got to watch their
videos. The kids came up with super
creative insects and it was so much fun watching the process. If you would like to see these awesome insects
you can watch the videos here:
Miss Hurley here, and I'll be taking over the blog for a little while. I have been student teaching
in the library for the past three weeks and I've been working on some pretty
cool projects with the students. But,
before I get to talking about the classes, I’d like to take some time to share
some information about myself. 
For the past three weeks, I have been working on a project
with the third grade classes that involves one of my favorite
creatures…penguins! Mrs. Ward, the
librarian over at Richmond Elementary, has been doing this project with her
third graders for several years, and this year she introduced it to me so that
I could give it a try (thanks Mrs. Ward!).
For the past few weeks, we have discussed how the Emperor Penguins live
in a community called a rookery. Just like
people, the penguins each have their own roles and responsibilities in order to
keep the rookery alive. We’ve discussed
proper note taking skills, and recently the students were able to begin their
research on the computer. 
