Teachers Can’t Get Enough of This Penguin Activity for Preschool—Have You Tried It Yet? 🐧

Winter can be a hectic time for preschool teachers, and finding penguin activities for preschool that are engaging, fun, and low-prep can feel like a challenge. That’s why this Penguin Iceberg Sensory Activity has become such a hit among early childhood teachers—it’s easy to set up, super versatile, and keeps little hands and minds busy! ✨

If you’re looking for a stress-free way to introduce sensory play while fostering creativity and fine motor skills, this activity is your answer. Here's why teachers are loving this easy prep activity!

Why This Penguin Activity is Perfect for Busy Teachers

We all know how chaotic a day in preschool can be, especially during the winter months. The beauty of this activity lies in its simplicity and versatility:

• Minimal Prep: Freeze the penguins overnight, and you’re ready to go the next day—no complicated materials or lengthy setup required!

• No Special Supplies Needed: With just a few household items that you likely already have on hand you'll be ready to create this winter wonderland.

• Adaptable for Any Space: Whether you have a sensory table or just a large tray, this activity works pretty much anywhere.

What You’ll Need

Here’s your quick materials list for this easy penguin activity for preschool:

• Penguin figurines 🐧 (Learning Resources are my go-to!)

• Small cups

• Water

• Pipettes or eye droppers

• Food coloring or liquid watercolors

• Optional: Snow or cotton balls

"Engaging Penguin Icebergs Sensory Activity for Preschoolers: Colorful penguins frozen in individual cups, ready for hands-on exploration at the sensory table."

How to Make Penguin Icebergs

The process is super simple, but you do need to prep it a day a head so that your penguins and icebergs can get their ❄️ freeze on!

1. Gather Your 🐧 Penguins: Start with some small penguin or arctic animal figurines. The ones from Learning Resources work great, but any small toy penguins will work!

2. Freeze Your Penguins: Place each figurine in a small cup. Add about an inch of water or so, and pop them in the freezer overnight.

3. Freeze Your Iceberg: Add a few inches of water to a plastic container or pot. Freeze overnight.

4. Put them in your Sensory Table: Place the icebergs and icy penguins in your sensory table or on a large tray. Add snow for extra fun if you have it, or use cotton balls as a fluffy snow substitute.

Preschool Penguin Activity | Preschoolers engage in a colorful penguin-themed activity, using pipettes to mix vibrant hues on snow and ice.

From Icy White to Rainbow Bright!

Time to add the colors! I use primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—by mixing a bit of food coloring or liquid watercolors into water.

⭐ PRO TIP: For extra stability, pour the colored water into cups or containers with wide bases to prevent accidental spills caused by enthusiastic little elbows! 😆

Give students pipettes or droppers so they can squirt the colored water onto the snow and icebergs. As they play, they’ll enjoy watching the colors mix and create new shades while exploring the melting ice.

Kids will:

• Naturally experiment with color mixing to create new colors and shades.

• Strengthen their fine motor skills by squeezing the pipettes.

• Stay engaged as they “rescue” their penguins and explore the melting process.

This activity was inspired by the adorable book 🐧 Penguins Love Colors by Sarah Aspinall (an absolute must-read!). This cute story introduces colorful penguins, each named after a flower. My personal favorite is the green one, Broccoli—it always gets a big laugh from the kiddos when they realize Broccoli is considered a flower! 🌷

Penguin activities for preschool, penguin icebergs

Penguin activities for preschool, penguin books your preschoolers will love!

Did your little ones love these Penguin Activities for Preschool?

This penguin iceberg sensory activity is such a fun and easy way to bring sensory play, fine motor skills, and creativity into your classroom. It’s a perfect addition to winter themes or a study on penguins!

Looking for even more penguin activities for preschool? Check out my Penguin Unit for Little Learners! It’s packed with engaging activities, games, centers, writing materials, and more to help you create a cohesive, penguin-themed learning experience. It's everything you need, all in one spot!

👉 Explore the Penguin Unit Here

👉 Grab a Penguin FREEBIE

I’d love to see how you incorporate penguins into your classroom! Share your ideas and activities with me on social media—I can’t wait to connect with you. 🐧❄️

➜ My ⭕ EASY BUTTON ⭕ to connect!