Inquiry-based learning is a dynamic process to learning that involves a process of exploring the natural or material world. The process leads to asking questions and making discoveries in the search for new understandings.
Our class explored and developed a curiosity about penguins and Antarctica.
This unit provided experiences for the kids to introduce them to skills, concepts, and topics that they will study in greater detail and refine in the later grades. We learned about the process of observation, and how they become "scientists" studying the world around them. 
In this unit, we learned about the physical attributes, behaviors, and lice cycles of six different penguins-rockhoppers, kings, little blues, african (at the Minnesota Zoo), chinstraps, and emperors.
Our math connections included: Measurement, map-reading, sorting, graphing, computation, place value skills, and problem solving.

How much does an emperor penguin weigh?
Pull the sled to find out! Many classmates
were close to an emperor's weight.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to carry an egg on your feet like the king and emperor penguin? We did too! We used lacrosse balls as eggs. It wasn't very easy! I guess we need a brood pouch.