UNIT
Emperor Penguins
by Roberta Edwards
THEME Communities
Penguin communities are called colonies. Children read about a
colony of emperor penguins in this book. It helps them explore the
theme question: What is a community?
This book will help build children’s understanding of the
habitat and life cycle of emperor penguins.
Expository nonfiction tells about real people, places,
animals, and events. These books often have photos and other
graphic sources.
SUMMARY
Emperor penguins are one kind of penguin. They live in Antarctica,
the coldest spot on Earth. Readers find out how penguins are able
to grow and survive in this difficult environment.
Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
Other Books by Roberta Edwards
•Flight of the Butterflies
•Space Kid
SNEAK PREVIEW
Match Children and Books
This book will appeal to
children who
•like to read about
animals
•enjoy nonfiction
•like to learn about animal
habitats
Comprehension Skills and
Strategies
•prior knowledge
Vocabulary Strategy
•categorize words
author’s purpose
preview
cause and effect
ask questions
•critical thinking
Unit 2 • Communities
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Emperor Penguins
Emperor Penguins
2
UNIT
How to Use the Book
Children may work independently, as partners, or in small groups.
Before Reading
BUILD BACKGROUND
Practice
Page
5
Talk with children about penguins and Antarctica. Ask them to share what they
know about penguins. Ask: Have you ever seen a penguin in a book or a zoo?
Explain that penguins are a type of bird that does not fly. Show children the
cover of Emperor Penguins and explain that emperor penguins are the largest
kind of penguins. Many penguins, including emperor penguins, live in very cold
areas. Take children on a picture walk through Emperor Penguins, encouraging
them to describe the habitat of the emperor penguin.
Children can use Student Practice Page 5 to draw the emperor penguin’s
habitat and some other animals they might find there.
INTRODUCE VOCABULARY
Practice
Page
6
Use Student Practice Page 6 to introduce vocabulary or
to assess children’s understanding of the words before
they read. If necessary, provide additional practice with
the words. For example, ask children to say or write a new
sentence for each word.
Words to Know
flippers
prey
surface
belly
Reading the Book
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COMPREHENSION SKILL Author’s Purpose
Practice
Page
7
On Student Practice Page 7, children answer questions about the author’s
purpose. Review with children what they have learned about author’s purpose.
• Authors write for different reasons.
• Some authors write to explain something or to give information.
• Some authors write funny or interesting things to help you enjoy reading.
COMPREHENSION STRATEGY Preview
Remind children that good readers often preview a book before they read it.
They look at the pictures and graphics and read any labels or captions to help
themselves figure out what the book is about and why the author wrote the book.
Reader Response
See Teacher’s Guide Page 7 for a possible response to the question, “What
animals from Emperor Penguins have you seen in real life, on TV, or in pictures?”
Unit 2 • Communities
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Emperor Penguins
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UNIT
COMPREHENSION SKILL Cause and Effect
Practice
Page
8
On Student Practice Page 8, children draw pictures to show what happens.
Review with children what they have learned about cause and effect.
• As you read, you should think about what happens and why it happens.
• The sentence “The water spilled because I dropped the glass” shows cause
and effect. “The water spilled” is what happened, or the effect. “I dropped
the glass” is why it happened, or the cause.
COMPREHENSION STRATEGY Ask Questions
Remind children that good readers often ask themselves questions as they
read. They know that asking questions is a good way to make sure that they
understand what is happening and why it is happening.
Reader Response
See Teacher’s Guide Page 8 for a possible response to the question, “How is
the climate where you live different from the climate in Antarctica?”
After Reading
COMPREHENSION CHECK
1. What is Emperor Penguins mostly about? It is mostly about emperor
penguins and how they survive and grow in the cold climate of Antarctica.
(Main Idea)
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2. How are penguins like other birds? How are they different from other
birds? They are like other birds because they lay eggs, spend time in the
water like ducks and swans do, and have wings. They are different from
some birds because they don’t fly, and their wings are more like flippers.
They use their wings for swimming, not flying. (Compare and Contrast)
3. Why are there no trees or grass or flowers in Antarctica? Trees, grass,
and flowers need warmth from the sun, soil, and rain to grow. In Antarctica,
there is only ice, and it is too cold for rain to fall or for plants to grow.
(Draw Conclusions)
4. Why do the mother penguins walk to the sea after they lay their eggs?
They are hungry because they haven’t eaten in two months, so they go to
Cause and Effect)
the sea to find food to eat. (
5. Why do the baby penguin chicks need to get food from their mothers’
throats? They are too young to find and chew their own food. (Draw
Conclusions)
6. What happens after the chicks are old enough to live on their own? They
make their first trip to the sea. (Sequence)
Unit 2 • Communities
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Emperor Penguins
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UNIT
7. Did the author write this book to tell a make-believe story about
penguins or to give information about real penguins? How do you know?
The author wrote it to give information about real penguins. I know
Author’s
because it is all about how real penguins live and grow. (
Purpose)
CRITICAL THINKING
1. After the mother penguin lays an egg, why does the egg need to stay
warm? The weather is very cold. If the egg doesn’t stay warm, it will freeze
and the chick won’t grow and hatch. (Inferring)
2. What would be exciting about visiting Antarctica? What would you not
enjoy? Possible response: It would be exciting to go where no people live
and to see the penguins, seals, whales, and all the snow and ice. I would
not enjoy the cold. (Evaluating)
ASSESSMENT
Practice
Page
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9
Use the Selection Test on Student Practice Page 9 to assess children’s
understanding of the book. See Teacher’s Guide Page 9 for answers.
Unit 2 • Communities
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Emperor Penguins
Emperor Penguins
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Name
Build Background
Emperor Penguins
What Lives in Antarctica?
Draw the animals that live in this cold climate. Write the name of
each animal next to its picture.
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Drawings will vary.
Unit 2 • Communities
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Build Background
Name
Vocabulary
Emperor Penguins
Words to Know
Choose the word in the box that names each picture. Write the
word on the line. Use all the words.
flippers surface prey belly
1.
2.
flippers
belly
4.
3.
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prey
surface
5.Words that tell about the same idea can be grouped together.
A penguin’s flippers and belly are parts of its body. What are
some other parts of a penguin’s body?
Possible responses: beak, claws, back, head, eyes, brood pouch
(male), webbed feet
Unit 2 • Communities
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Vocabulary
Name
Author’s Purpose
Emperor Penguins
Why Does an Author Write?
•The author’s purpose is the reason an author writes something.
Answer the questions.
1.This book tells
a story.
facts.
2.This book is all about
ice.
friends.
penguins.
3.What does the map on pages 10–11 of Emperor Penguins
show?
The map shows where penguins live.
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4.What do pages 12–13 tell you? Why did the author write these
pages?
The pages tell about different kinds of penguins. The author may
have wanted us to know that not all penguins are alike.
Reader Response Text to Self
5.What animals from Emperor Penguins have you seen in real
life, on TV, or in pictures?
Possible response: I’ve seen seals and penguins in the zoo and
on TV shows about nature.
Unit 2 • Communities
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Comprehension
Name
Cause and Effect
Emperor Penguins
What Is Happening?
•An effect is what happens.
•A cause is why something happens.
Read why something happens. Draw a picture to show what
happens.
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Cause: Why something happens
Effect: What happens
1.Antarctica is very cold.
No trees, grass, or
flowers grow in
Antarctica.
2.Penguins have fat in their
bodies and thick, short
coats of feathers.
Penguins stay warm.
3.The male penguin tucks
the egg under a flap on
its belly.
The egg stays safe and
warm.
Reader Response Text to Self
4.How is the climate where you live different from the climate in
Antarctica? Possible response: In the climate where I live, the
weather is not as cold as it is in Antarctica. It is warm enough that
trees, grass, and flowers grow during the spring, summer, and fall.
Unit 2 • Communities
8
Comprehension
Name
Assessment
Emperor Penguins
Selection Test
Mark the space with your answer.
1.Where do emperor penguins live?
in a forest
in Antarctica
in a house
2.What do emperor penguins eat?
fish and squid
fruit and nuts
leaves and grass
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3.Where do emperor penguins go to lay their eggs?
to a barn
to the bottom of the sea
inland to their nesting grounds
4.What does the father penguin do after the mother penguin lays
the egg?
protects the egg in his brood pouch
goes to the sea to eat
builds a nest of twigs
5.Why did the author include a map in the book?
to show how cold Antarctica is
to show where penguins live
to show what penguins eat
Unit 2 • Communities
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Assessment