April 25 – World Penguin Day

Today, April 25, is a very special day because it’s World Penguin Day! This day is dedicated to celebrating one of the most unique and beloved birds on our planet – the penguin. This day aligns with the annual northern migration of penguins, a natural phenomenon that is crucial to their life cycle. You can check out all of the Fact of the Day for Kids here.

Can you find the 12 differences in the penguin picture? You can find the solution at the bottom of the page.

FIVE FUN FACTS ABOUT WORLD PENGUIN DAY

• Penguins are flightless birds. While they can’t fly, penguins are extraordinary swimmers and can dive up to 1,850 feet deep!
• Despite their usual association with Antarctica, penguins can also be found in warmer climates like South Africa and the Galápagos Islands.
• The smallest penguin species is the Little Blue Penguin, which is only about 13 inches tall.
• Penguins have a specialized gland above their eyes that helps filter salt from the water they drink.
• World Penguin Day began at McMurdo Station, an American research station in Antarctica, where researchers noticed that the Adélie penguins began their migration around this day every year.

ACTIVITY IDEAS TO CELEBRATE APRIL 25

To make World Penguin Day even more fun and educational, here are some activities you can do in the classroom:

• Create a penguin-themed art project, like making penguin bookmarks or penguin paper mache.
• Hold a “penguin parade” where students waddle like penguins around the school yard.
• Watch a documentary about penguins to learn about their habitats and behaviors.
• Have a “coolest facts” contest where students share the most interesting facts they’ve learned about penguins.
• Make a penguin habitat diorama using natural materials and figures.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT FOR APRIL 25

On World Penguin Day, there’s a lot to think about to deepen your understanding and appreciation of penguins:

• Why do you think penguins are unable to fly, unlike most other birds?
• How do penguins survive in some of the coldest environments on Earth?
• What can we do to help protect penguin habitats from environmental threats?
• Why is it important for penguins to live in large groups?
• What are some adaptations penguins have that help them swim so well?

WOULD YOU RATHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WORLD PENGUIN DAY

Here are five questions to spark conversation. Would you rather…

• Live in Antarctica with the penguins for a year or spend a year studying penguins in a zoo?
• Have the swimming ability of a penguin or be able to withstand cold like a penguin?
• Meet a penguin in the wild or adopt a penguin at a local zoo?
• Dress up as a penguin for a day or eat like a penguin for a week?
• Watch a movie about penguins or read a book about penguin adventures?