Toboggan Like a Penguin

Gan Gimmel learned that penguins waddle because they have short legs, but they can slide on their bellies, or toboggan, to get around quickly.

We gave tobogganing a try for ourselves!

It's so much quicker to toboggan than to waddle!

We also discovered that tobogganing on the smooth floor is so much easier than tobogganing on the rough rug!

Will it Slide!!!!???

In Gan Aleph, we discussed the art of tobogganing and how penguins slide on their bellies across the ice. We asked the children if everything can slide on ice. We put this question to the test and conducted a “Will it Slide?” science experiment.  

 

 We froze a tray of ice and gathered materials that were presented on a check list.

 In small groups, the children took turns sliding things across the ice such as a penny, felt, pencils and more.

 They checked the box which indicated whether that object did or did not slide. We discussed what the word “friction” means and how some things really create friction on the ice and therefore it will not slide.

  We decided that penguins must have very smooth bellies which help them to slide on the ice. We had a great time experimenting with ice and truly understood the art of tobogganing after this activity!