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Science Launch G3 / Week 08 / Wednesday
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Week 08 · Better Together

Wednesday

The huddle model
// Animals that live in groups
⏱ about 15 min

Wednesday: The Huddle Model

Rocket shivers after a snowball game. Raven and three friends squeeze close on the porch bench.

"Scoot in!" they call. Soon Rocket feels warmer.

"What do you notice?" Raven asks. "Is the middle spot or the end spot warmer?"

Nova hovers above the bench. "Penguins do this too," she says. "Let's build a model and test it."

How emperor penguins huddle

Emperor penguins live in Antarctica. Winter air there can drop to 40 degrees below zero Celsius.

In the middle of winter, a male emperor penguin keeps his egg warm. He does this for about 64 days.

He huddles close with other males the whole time.

Older chicks huddle in groups to keep warm and stay safe from predators.

Your investigation

You will use cups of warm water as model penguins. A model helps us test an idea.

  • Eight paper or plastic cups, all the same size
  • Warm tap water, poured by a grown-up
  • A tray
  • A rubber band or a strip of tape
  • A kitchen thermometer, if you have one
Safety first
A grown-up pours the water. Use warm water, not hot.
Do not drink the water.
Wipe up spills right away.
  1. A grown-up fills all eight cups with the same amount of warm water.
  2. Group seven cups tightly together on the tray. Put one cup in the middle.
  3. Wrap the rubber band or tape around the outside of the group.
  4. Set the eighth cup far away by itself.
  5. Wait 20 minutes.
  6. Check the middle cup and the lonely cup. Use a thermometer or a finger.
UNDERSTAND THE MODEL
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
In our model, what do the cups stand for?
What does the lonely cup stand for?
CupWarm or cool after 20 minutes?Temperature (if measured)
Middle of the huddle
Lonely cup
Penguin factsTrue or false?
Male emperor penguins huddle while keeping their eggs warm.?
Emperor penguin chicks huddle to keep warm.?
Huddling also helps chicks stay safe from predators.?
Emperor penguins keep their eggs warm in summer only.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEEmperor penguins huddle through the winter to stay warm and safe.

Think about your model

The middle cup had other cups all around it, like a penguin inside a huddle.

The lonely cup had no neighbors, like a penguin standing alone.

Your results are your own evidence. Write what you really saw.

MODEL THINKING
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
In the model, what does the middle cup stand for?
Why did all the cups start with the same amount of water?
About how many days does a male emperor penguin keep his egg warm?
WHY THIS EXERCISEA male emperor penguin keeps his egg warm for about 64 days.

Excellent modeling! Tomorrow we meet animals that take turns keeping watch.

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