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Draw a Penguin - World Penguin Day!

Draw a Penguin - World Penguin Day!
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Draw and color your own penguin using pencils, markers, or crayons, learn simple body shapes, and add a snowy background for World Penguin Day.

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Step-by-step guide to Draw a Penguin - World Penguin Day!

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HOW TO DRAW A CUTE PENGUIN EASY 🐧💗

What you need
Black marker, coloring materials (colored pencils markers or crayons), drawing paper, eraser, pencil

Step 1

Put your paper on a flat surface in portrait orientation.

Step 2

Lightly sketch a large oval in the middle of the paper for the penguin's body.

Step 3

Draw a smaller circle that touches the top of the oval for the penguin's head.

Step 4

Add a teardrop-shaped flipper on one side of the body.

Step 5

Add a matching teardrop-shaped flipper on the other side of the body.

Step 6

Draw a small triangle in the center of the face for the beak.

Step 7

Draw two small round eyes above the beak.

Step 8

Sketch an oval on the lower front of the body for the white belly patch.

Step 9

Draw two short webbed feet at the bottom of the body.

Step 10

Draw a snowy background by sketching a curved ground line and several simple snowflakes in the sky.

Step 11

Carefully trace over your pencil lines with the black marker to make the shapes bold.

Step 12

Wait a minute for the marker to dry and then gently erase any remaining pencil lines.

Step 13

Color the penguin's back and flippers black or dark gray and leave the belly patch lighter.

Step 14

Color the beak and feet bright orange or yellow and color the sky light blue with white snow on the ground.

Step 15

Take a photo of your finished penguin and share it on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

I don't have a black marker—what can I use instead?

If you don't have a black marker, use a black crayon, felt-tip pen, dark gray pencil, or fine-tip permanent marker to complete the step 'Carefully trace over your pencil lines with the black marker' so the shapes stay bold.

My marker bled and the pencil lines won't erase—what should I do?

If the marker smudges or the pencil lines resist erasing after 'Carefully trace...' and 'Wait a minute for the marker to dry', place a scrap paper under your hand, let the ink dry an extra 5–10 minutes, then use a soft eraser and erase gently to avoid smears.

How can I adapt the activity for younger or older kids?

For preschoolers, simplify by drawing a single big oval and circle for them to color and skipping the tracing and erasing steps, while older kids can add details like shading on the 'Color the penguin's back' step and a more complex snowy background before taking the photo to share on DIY.org.

How can we personalize or extend the penguin drawing?

Personalize the penguin by adding a scarf, hat, or patterns on the belly, glue cotton balls to the curved ground line for real snow after coloring, or create a short caption to post with your photo on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to Draw a Penguin - World Penguin Day!

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HOW TO DRAW A CUTE PENGUIN EASY STEP BY STEP 🐧❤️

4 Videos

Facts about drawing and coloring for kids

🌎 Almost all penguin species live in the Southern Hemisphere; the Galápagos penguin is the only one found north of the equator.

🐣 Baby penguins are born covered in soft down before they grow waterproof adult feathers.

🌊 Gentoo penguins are among the fastest underwater, slicing through the sea with powerful strokes.

🐧 Penguins are flightless birds—but their flipper-like wings make them amazing swimmers.

📅 World Penguin Day is celebrated on April 25 to raise awareness about penguins and their habitats.

How do I draw and color a penguin for World Penguin Day?

To draw and color your penguin for World Penguin Day, start by sketching simple shapes: a large oval for the body and a small circle for the head. Add flippers, a triangular beak, and stubby feet. Draw the white belly by curving an inner oval. Erase extra lines, outline with a black marker, then color: black for back and flippers, orange or yellow for the beak and feet, and white belly. Finish with a snowy background—snowflakes, icy rocks, and a pale blue sky.

What materials do I need to draw a penguin (pencils, markers, crayons)?

You'll need drawing paper or heavy cardstock, a pencil and eraser for sketching, a fine black marker to outline, and colored pencils, markers, or crayons to fill in color. Optional supplies: a white gel pen or white crayon for snow highlights, watercolor or soft pastels for blended skies, stickers or googly eyes for decoration, and a ruler or circle template for neat shapes. Keep materials non-toxic for young children.

What ages is drawing and coloring a penguin suitable for?

This activity suits preschoolers through preteens with adult help tailored to age. Ages 3–5 enjoy simple shape tracing and coloring with supervision for scissors or small items. Ages 6–9 can sketch basic shapes, outline, and color independently, building fine motor skills. Ages 10+ can add details, shading, or backgrounds and learn about real penguins. Always supervise younger children with markers and small supplies, and adapt complexity to each child’s ability.

What are the benefits of drawing a penguin and are there safe variations?

Drawing penguins supports fine motor coordination, shape recognition, and creativity while teaching children about wildlife and World Penguin Day. Coloring also helps focus and color-mixing practice. For variation, try making a collage with black and white paper, a watercolor penguin, or a folded-paper puppet for play. Safety: use non-toxic art supplies, avoid small decorations for toddlers, and supervise scissors and permanent markers. Encourage discussing penguin habitats to add an educational
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