Hi there! Have you ever thought about birds and how they can fly? Well, not all birds can fly. For example, ostriches and penguins are birds that can’t fly. Today, we’re going to talk about penguins and their wings.
Penguins are special birds that live in cold places. They have wings, but they don’t use them to fly in the air like other birds. So, why do they have wings? Let’s find out!
When you see penguins on land, they waddle around slowly. Sometimes, they even slide on their bellies to move faster. But penguins spend a lot of time in the water, and that’s where their wings come in handy!
Underwater, penguins use their wings to swim. Their wings help them move quickly through the water to catch fish. So, even though penguins can’t fly in the sky, their wings are perfect for swimming.
Penguin wings are different from other birds’ wings. They are stiff and straight, like paddles. Instead of long feathers for flying, penguins have tiny feathers that make their wings smooth. This helps them swim better underwater.
Penguins have wings that are not for flying but for swimming. Their wings are like paddles, helping them glide through the water to catch fish. Isn’t that cool?
Thanks for learning about penguins with me! There are so many interesting things to discover about animals and the world around us. Keep asking questions and stay curious!
Penguin Paddle Experiment: Let’s explore how penguin wings work like paddles! Fill a shallow container with water. Use a spoon to mimic a penguin’s wing. Try moving the spoon through the water in different ways. What happens when you move it quickly or slowly? How does the shape of the spoon help it move through the water? Discuss how this is similar to how penguins use their wings to swim.
Waddle Like a Penguin: Penguins have a unique way of walking. Try waddling like a penguin! Put a small pillow or a book between your knees and try to walk without dropping it. How does it feel? Why do you think penguins waddle instead of walking like other birds? Think about how their bodies are designed for swimming and how this affects their movement on land.
Observe and Draw: Find a video or pictures of penguins swimming. Watch how they use their wings underwater. After watching, draw a picture of a penguin swimming. Pay attention to the shape of their wings and how they move. Share your drawing with a friend or family member and explain how penguin wings help them swim.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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(phone ringing) – Hi, it’s Doug. When you think of a bird, you think of an animal that can fly, but not all birds can fly. For example, an ostrich. I can’t bring an ostrich in here with me, but I can bring in one of its eggs. This is an ostrich egg. Look how big it is, especially compared to an ordinary chicken egg. Someone named Navani has a question about another bird that can’t fly: penguins. Let’s give her a call now. (phone ringing) – Hi, Doug. – Hi, Navani. – I have a question for you. Why do penguins have wings if they cannot fly? – That’s a great question. Most birds are really good at flying; it’s what they’re known for. But some birds can’t fly, like penguins. You can search all around the world and look at every single penguin, and I promise, you’ll never find a penguin flying. It just doesn’t happen. Even if a penguin flapped its wings as hard as it could, it still wouldn’t be able to get off the ground.
Now, it might seem unusual that penguins even have wings. If they can’t fly, what’s the point? But ostriches are another kind of bird that can’t fly, and they have wings too. When an ostrich stands up, you can see its wings. Instead of flying, ostriches walk or run from place to place. For ostriches, their legs are very important, and their wings hardly do anything at all.
So, just because an animal has a certain body part, doesn’t mean that they use it. It’s possible for animals to have body parts that aren’t that useful to them, like wings for an ostrich. But is that true for a penguin? Or is there something they use their wings for? What do you think? Do you have any ideas what a penguin uses its wings for? Now would be a good time to pause the video and discuss.
Okay, you ready? When you watch penguins trying to get around, it’s not obvious what they use their wings for. It’s not for getting from place to place; they just waddle around. In fact, this waddling is so slow that sometimes it’s actually faster for them to slide on their bellies. But this is just what they’re like on land. Penguins spend a lot of their time in the water too. And when you see what they’re like underwater, you get a clue. Underwater, penguins look totally different.
Now you can see how they use their wings. It’s for swimming. They swim around to hunt for fish. So, penguins’ wings may not be good for flying in the air like most birds’ wings, but they’re perfect for swimming underwater. In other words, their wings are designed for swimming.
In fact, penguins’ wings look different than most birds’ wings. Instead of bending or folding in the middle, penguins’ wings are stiff and straight. Instead of having long feathers that stick out to help them fly, penguins have tiny feathers that lay flat and smooth. The shape of a penguin wing is almost more like a paddle, the kind you’d use for a boat.
So, in summary, penguins have wings not for flying in the air, but for swimming underwater. Their wings are smooth and stiff, like paddles. They use their wings to swim and catch fish. That’s all for this week’s question. Thanks, Navani, for asking it.
Now, for the next episode, I reached into my question jar and found three questions submitted to me that I’m thinking about answering. When this video is done playing, you’ll get to vote on one. You can choose from, “Why do people blink?”, “How do islands stay afloat in the ocean?”, or “How does sign language work?” So submit your vote when the video’s over. I want to hear from all of you watching. There are mysteries all around us. Stay curious and see you next week.
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
