January 20th is Penguin Awareness Day — because how many penguins do you have wandering around you? Almost all 17 types live in or near Antarctica. As for their cute black and white suits, that’s “camouflage,” or coloring that helps them hide by looking like their surroundings. Their black backs match the dark ocean, so animals above don’t see them; for animals looking up at them, the penguins’ white bellies blend with the sunshine. But penguins aren’t afraid of people, and will walk right up to you — if you go to Antarctica!
Wee ones: The tallest penguins, emperor penguins, stand 4 feet tall. Is that taller or shorter than a 3-foot tall person?
Little kids: Penguins can’t fly, but like all birds they each have 2 wings. How many wings do 3 penguins have? Bonus: Which group has more penguins: a flock of 43 penguins or a flock of 34 penguins?
Big kids: If penguins are taking a nap, and most lie with their white bellies up but every 3rd penguin starting with the 3rd has its black back facing up, what number penguin is the 11th one with its belly up? Bonus: On top of Penguin Awareness Day, we’re also going to have World Penguin Day on April 25. If you’re reading this on January 20, how many days will we wait for World Penguin Day? (Waiting until tomorrow would count as 1 day – and don’t forget you might be in a Leap Year, with 1 extra day in February!)
Answers:
Wee ones: The 4-foot penguin is taller than the 3-foot person!
Little kids: 6 wings. Bonus: The flock of 43 penguins!
Big kids: The 16th. The first 10 belly-up penguins are from the first 5 sets of 3, or the first 15. Bonus: 95 days if it’s not a Leap Year. We wait 5 days until January 25, then 31 until February 25, 28 more until March 25, and then 31 more to April 25. If it’s a Leap Year, we add 1 extra day between February 25 and March 25, so it totals 96 days.
