Begin with a chart documenting what students know about polar animals to gauge what knowledge students already have and any misconceptions that need to be cleared up. This can be done using a KWL chart or a similar graphic organizer. Read aloud a variety of nonfiction books that include plenty of pictures and simple facts to present new information to students. The class can add new information learned to the chart. Fiction books can be included to reinforce facts learned from nonfiction books.
Conduct a science experiment by demonstrating how blubber helps animals such as penguins and seals stay warm in cold water. Fill two bowls with ice water. Have one plastic bag filled with solid cooking shortening for students to put their hands into. Have the students put plastic gloves on both hands, and then put one hand into the “blubber” bag. Next, have the students put each hand into a bowl of ice water. They will notice how the hand with the blubber is protected from the cold water.
You can also demonstrate how polar animals' white coloring helps them hide in the snow by having students search for white objects in a container of white cotton balls.
Kindergarten students make meaning and develop deeper understandings through exploration and play. Centers are a way to incorporate crafts, snacks, and sensory experiences into everyday learning. Sensory tables or bins can be filled with ice, shaving cream, and polar animal figures. As students play, their learning will be reinforced. Crafts such as paper plate animals or painted snow scenes can cement learning about particular animals. Snacks can be created to represent polar animals such as cookie penguins or ice cream polar bears.
You can find many images and videos that will give students an idea of what polar animals are like. Websites such as discovery.com have great information for kids as well as pictures and webcams. Clips of documentary movies such as "March of the Penguins" can allow students to see penguin behavior. Fictional movies such as "Happy Feet" can also be shown as a celebration of learning and as a way for students to notice facts they’ve learned.