Mr. Popper's Penguins

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“A Healthy Habitat”

In this creative activity, students will research an animal with specific traits and habitat requirements that would make it a difficult or impossible pet. By thinking critically about the animal’s behaviors and necessary accommodations, students will determine reasons to keep the animal in its intended environment.

Imagine that you, like Mr. Popper, must consider sharing a household with a wild animal. Research this animal’s habitat, behaviors, and needs, then analyze the arrangements and adjustments that would be needed to keep the pet safe and content in a household environment. Consider the difficulties that may arise for the animal (and the people in the household), and thinking critically, list reasons this animal should remain in its natural habitat.

Create a media presentation to describe the animal, its typical life in the wild, and the accommodations that would be needed for life in a household. Share the reasons you’ve determined for keeping the animal in its natural habitat. Use these steps to complete the activity:

• Select an unusual animal and imagine keeping it in a household environment.
• Research this animal’s living conditions, lifestyle, behaviors, and habitats.
• What needs does the animal have? Describe the arrangements and adaptations that would have to be made for the “pet” to live in your home.
• Consider how the neighbors might respond to this animal.
• Finally, list reasons why the animal is better off remaining in its natural habitat.

Share your media presentation with peers; draw comparisons that describe how your “pet” experience might be like Mr. Popper’s experience with Captain Cook, Greta, and the penguin family.

Teaching Suggestion: It may be helpful for students to review and discuss their ideas on actions and sacrifices generated for the Discussion/Analysis prompt. It also may be helpful to offer students a completed sample presentation before they begin researching their animal; alternatively, students might help to complete a sample presentation together. For example, students might discuss the problems that would arise if they were to bring home a “pet” porcupine and contribute ideas to a model slide show before completing the activity on their own.