This children’s article, Emperor penguins: the coolest parents on Earth, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about animals, and explore life in the coldest place on Earth. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.
Emperor penguins: life on the ice
Emperor penguins are the biggest of all penguins. They can grow taller than a metre and weigh up to 40 kilograms! This particular type of penguin lives only in Antarctica, one of the coldest places on our planet.
Most of the time, they stay in large groups near the sea. This makes it easier for them to dive for fish and keep warm together. But when winter comes, things change.
Winter families
When winter begins, emperor penguins march inland, away from the sea. Here, the female lays just one egg and then carefully passes it to the father before heading back to the ocean to find food.
The father balances the egg on his feet, tucking it into a warm pouch of skin called a brood pouch. He has to stand in blizzards and freezing winds for about two months, without eating anything. His only job is to keep the egg safe and warm.
The mother returns
By August, which is the middle of winter in Antarctica, the mother returns just in time for hatching! The tiny chick breaks out of the shell, and the mother takes over the feeding duties. This is the father’s signal to go to the ocean and grab some well-deserved fish.
From then on, the parents take turns looking after the chick. One stays to keep it safe while the other heads off to the sea for food. It’s teamwork at its chilliest!
Growing up fast
The chick grows quickly thanks to all the food runs. By December, when summer begins in Antarctica, the young penguin is big and strong enough to waddle to the sea.
For the first time, it dives into the ocean to hunt for itself. From that moment on, it’s ready to live independently, and the whole amazing cycle begins again the next winter.
Article vocabulary list
- Brood pouch – a flap of skin used by penguins to keep eggs warm.
- Blizzard – a very strong snowstorm.
- Independent – able to live on your own without help.
- Cycle – something that repeats again and again in the same order.
- Teamwork – when two or more people (or penguins!) work together to get a job done.
- Inland – away from the coast or sea, deeper into the land.
- Hatch – when a baby bird breaks out of its egg.
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. How tall can emperor penguins grow?
A) Over a metre
B) Half a metre
C) Two metres
Answer: A) Over a metre
2. What does the female penguin do after laying an egg?
A) She eats the egg
B) She gives it to the father and goes to the sea
C) She keeps it under her wing
Answer: B) She gives it to the father and goes to the sea
3. What is the brood pouch used for?
A) To store food
B) To keep the egg warm
C) To carry chicks on a journey
Answer: Correct answer: B
4. How long does the father penguin protect the egg without eating?
A) Two days
B) Two weeks
C) Two months
Answer: C) Two months
5. When are young penguins ready to go into the ocean?
A) By December
B) In August
C) In March
Answer: A) By December
Mark is a writer and EFL teacher from England with eight years’ experience. He’s passionate about travel, sport (especially football), animals, nature, and history, and enjoys helping children explore the world through language and learning.
