Writing Challenge: Live from the Penguin Cam

We've done a few serious writing challenges over the last few months, and I'm very impressed by how much you have learned about punctuation, capitalization, irregular verbs and countable/uncountable nouns. This month, let's have a little fun!

Your Task

1. Check out this Live Penguin Cam from the Vancouver Aquarium.

2. Spy on the seven African penguins for a while. What do you think they are thinking? If they aren't around, it could be night time. Visit again later. Feeding time is really fun!

3. Give the penguins seven names using positive or negative personality adjectives (like the 7 Dwarves). If you only see four penguins, just write about four, or imagine what the others are doing.

4. Create a new blog post. Use the title: Writing Challenge: Live from the Penguin Cam. Write a dialogue from the perspective of these penguins. Try to use idioms, phrasal verbs, and everyday sayings in your dialogue. Include actions in italics in [square brackets].

5. Come back to this post and share a link to your post. Read the other Writing Challenge posts and leave comments. Have fun!

Note: If you're not into penguins, or if the penguins aren't active in your time zone, find another Live Cam that interests you. You can search through many live cams via EarthCam.com. Title your post: Writing Challenge: Live from Times Square or Live from the Puppy Cam. If there is only one animal, person or landmark in the camera, write a monologue from the perspective of this person or thing.

My Example

Writing Challenge: Live from the Penguin Cam

Dorky: I can't believe you're swimming today! The water is like -22.4 degrees. You wouldn't catch me dead in there.

Sneaky: When I swim people take pictures of me. I'm going to be famous. Just watch. I'll swim for five seconds and five people will snap photos of me. They're all over me! The water may be cold, but I'm hot!

Touchy: They take pictures of me too you know! You're not the only penguin in this zoo.

Timid: I don't want my picture taken. Someone might see it and come and steal me. I think I'll just stand over here and look at the wall. Pretend I'm not here.

Flirtatious: I hope one of those guys is from the San Diego Zoo. I'm looking for a transfer. The penguins there are adorable. I need a change in scenery. Pick me! Pick me! [flaps wildly]

Stingy: No way. [shakes head] The penguins there don't get fed as often. It's overcrowded down south. I like it here. I know where I stand. I'm guaranteed at least five fish each feeding.

Dorky: Listen up everyone! It's 2:00 on the dot. Time for us to line up in single file. I'm first because it's my birthday tomorrow. [lines up by the glass where the visitors are congregating]

Flirtatious: Only if I can be behind you. You're looking fine today, Dorky. Old age looks good on you.

Touchy: Hey, what about me? Don't I look good today? You never say how good I look. I don't think she likes me.

Sneaky: You snooze, you lose, Flirty! I'm behind Dorky today. All of the photographers are moving in. Smile pretty everyone. [sneaks away to be the first in line for the next feeding]

This challenge is dedicated to a friend who is obsessed with penguins. She keeps the Live Penguin Cam on at work.

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Admin Comment by Tara Benwell on August 1, 2012 at 14:26: Be sure to check out another great response: Live from the Fish Cam (by Ashwini Krishnan)

Admin Comment by Tara Benwell on August 1, 2012 at 14:17: Erna has shared an interesting story about the "penguin parade" in Australia. Check it out!

Admin Comment by Tara Benwell on July 27, 2012 at 14:32: Yeah, the penguins seem to go to a different enclosure when the zoo closes. Visit again soon, or try a different cam. I hope you'll join us in this month's challenge, Nafis!

Mod Comment by Nafis on July 27, 2012 at 13:31: It's so exciting! I checked the Cam. It seems penguins are in sleep. hummm! Thanks a lot dear Tara...what a thrilling challenge!

SpamBuster Comment by Ha Nguyen on July 26, 2012 at 9:18: Dear teacher Tara,

Here is my piece of writing regarding this challenge. Please have a look and correct my mistakes! Thank you kindly!

Comment by mitran on July 26, 2012 at 5:07: My dear Teacher Tara...

Thank you very much for your introducing....Really I'm so excited with your challenge

Admin Comment by Tara Benwell on July 25, 2012 at 14:49: We've had some great responses so far! Don't miss Mitran's Live from the Puppy Cam!

Comment by Butterfly on July 24, 2012 at 19:55: http://my.englishclub.com/profiles/blogs/writing-challenge-pandacam This is my Writing Challenge link.

Comment by Butterfly on July 24, 2012 at 15:45: Oh, sounds like a fun Challenge.

Admin Comment by Tara Benwell on July 23, 2012 at 14:41: @Zahra You are probably in the opposite time zone of the Vancouver Aquarium. I think the penguins go somewhere else to sleep. You could try any of the other Live Cams for this challenge. Cheers!