Remarkable Idea
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“Staying Warm Like Penguins Do”
1) Access
Remarkable Professional
Remarkable Idea Submitted by:
AbleNet Employees
Book of Possibilities
Big Red®
2) Communication
“This fun and simple activity allows all learners to study important lessons about animals
and the environment – it can hold the attention of any child!.”
iTalk2™ With Levels
Communicator
LITTLE Step-by-Step™
with Levels
3) Environmental Control
PowerLink® 4
Summary of Activity:
S
tudents can either follow instructions to complete this
experiment themselves or read out the instructions for
other students to follow.
The activity simulates the insulation of a penguin and
how they keep warm in the cold, students can then go
on to make observations about the outcome. Using the
iTalk2 communicator to select and communicate the
outcome they observed.
Ice & Plastic Bags
Objectives
• Students will follow a series of one-step directions to
complete a science experiment.
• Students will appropriately use the “cold” vocabulary word
to describe observable qualities.
This activity addresses the following skills:
•
•
•
•
Cause and effect
Visual follows
Anticipation
Group working
Connecting Technology • Connecting People • Connecting the World
Remarkable Idea
Staying
Warm Like
Penguins Do
Getting Ready
Materials List:
1. G
ather the following materials
• picture of a penguin
•p
icture(s) of places where
penguins live (snow, ice, sea)
• ice cubes
• resealable plastic bags
(two per student)
• Step-by-Step communicator
• iTalk2 communicator
• Big Red
• hair dryer
2. C
reate two-inch pictures/symbols of “cold”
and “no.”
P
lace the pictures/symbols on the iTalk2
communicator and program the sentences
“This feels cold”
and “No, this does not feel cold” on the
respective locations of the iTalk2
communicator.
3. R
ecord the Science Script (see below) on the
Step-by-Step communicator.
4. F
ill plastic bags with ice, one bag
per student.
Activity Steps
1.Show students the pictures of a penguin and the penguin climate.
2.Explain to students that penguins are animals that live where it is
very cold all the time.
3.Ask students if anybody knows how penguins are able to keep from
freezing in the cold weather.
4.AT user either reads the science experiment script using the
Step-by-Step or follows the instructions of the teacher.
5.Students follow the directions to place an empty plastic bag
on their hand, then a bag of ice on top of that.
6.Each student uses the iTalk2 communicator to say if their
hand feels cold or not. Explain to students that this is how our
skin feels when it touches ice - ice makes our skin feel cold.
7.Explain to students that now they are going to experience what a
penguin feels when it touches ice.
8.Connect the Hair Dryer, PowerLink and Big Red. The AT user can
then use these with teachers help to blow air into the resealable
plastic bag and seals them, creating one for each student.
9. S
tudents follow the Science Script to place a bag with air
inside of iton the back of their hand. The teacher explains that
penguins have little straws under their feathers that keep air inside
them, just like the bag keeps air trapped inside of it.
10. Students follow directions to place a bag of ice on top of the
air-filled plastic bag.
11. Each student uses the iTalk2 communicator to say if their hand
feels cold or not. Explain to students that this is how a penguin
feels when it’s feathers touch ice.
12. Explain to students that the bag with the air in it keeps the cold
ice away from our skin, so it does not make our skin feel cold.
Remind students that penguins have little straws under their
feathers that are like pockets of air that keep the cold away from
their skin in the same way.
Script
If a student is to call out directions to fellow students:
“Penguins can stay warm in places that are very cold.”
“We are going to do a science experiment to find out how
penguins are able to stay warm in very
cold temperatures.”
“First, we’re going to find out what it feels like when our skin
touches ice.”
“Everybody, grab a plastic bag, but don’t fill it. Put it on your
arm or on your hand.”
“Now take a plastic bag that’s filled with ice, and set it on top
of the plastic bag on your hand. Does
your hand feel cold? Each of you will have a turn to tell the
class if your hand feels cold.”
“Now we’re going to find out what a penguin feels when it
touches ice.”
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“Penguins have little straws under their feathers that hold air.
We are going to put a bag of air on our hand. Everybody, grab
a bag that has air inside, and put it on your skin. Now pick up
a bag of ice and set it on the bag filled with air.”
“Does your skin feel cold? Everybody will get a turn to tell the
class if their skin felt cold or not.”
“Our experiment is all done now. Who can remember why
penguins stay warm on the ice and in
very, very cold weather?”
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