Life Cycle of a Frog Lesson Plan

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From Tadpoles to Frogs - a study for young children

A homeschool study for young children on the life cycle of a frog.

Amphibians

In 1735, Carolus Linnaeus devised the classification of animals; included in this list was amphibians, whose name literally means "double lives" because they spend part of their life in water and part on land.

Frogs, Toads, Salamanders and newts are all considered amphibians.

The characteristics of Amphibians are:

* The young are called tadpoles and their immature stages are spent in or near water.

* Skin is porous and moist and assists in their breathing.

* Can emit sounds by expelling air from their lungs.

* Does not drink water but rather absorbs moisture through their skin.

* Are cold blooded.

Teaching Tips

Do not limit your study of Frogs to just books. Allow children to observe the life cycle up close, whether you purchase a kit or find your own tadpoles in nature.

Even if you opt to purchase a tadpole kit for up close observation, be sure to take your children on a nature walk to observe tadpoles or frogs in a natural setting and discuss their habitats.

Frogs & Tadpoles

amazing pictures to share

Frog Eggs by Aranya Sen (bangalore)
curated content from Flickr

SUGGESTED BOOKS

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Suggested Nature Study Books & Field Guides

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Lab Resources

Online resources for hands-on learning activities

Grow a Frog lifecycle kit
Offers a variety of frog lifecycle kits.
Frog Hatchery Deluxe lifecycle kit
What makes this frog hatchery ideal is the large clear plastic habitat with removable ventilated cover. This habitat is large enough to keep adult frogs and the cover ensures your frogs won't hop away. Everything is included: special food, magnifier, instructions for raising and caring for your frogs, and a fully pre-paid coupon for 6-10 live frog embryos (redeemable in the continental US, excluding Utah). A bonus pack of adult frog food is also included.

You may get either African clawed frog or Grass frog embryos when you redeem your coupon, depending on where you live and the time of year.
Live BULLFROG Tadpoles
Bullfrog tadpoles are much larger than regular tadpoles so your students which is sometimes more exciting for children. Expect the cycle to take 12-16 weeks.

FROG LIFE CYCLE DOWNLOADS & PDF FILES

Downloads to add to your lapbook, notebooks and lesson plans.
Life Cycle of a Frog worksheet
Sierra Club Education Program's one page worksheet on the life cycle of a Boreal Chorus Frog
Frog Life Cycle Mini Book
Enchanted Learning's 6 page booklet on a frog life cycle.
Frog Anatomy Layerbook
Illustrations of anatomy of frog that can be made into a layer book (or frog sandwich as the pdf file so lovingly calls it)
Frog Life Cycle shape book
Great for a lapbook, this two page frog shapebook covers the lifecycle of a frog
Kidzone's link list of additional resources
Follow this link to some great free downloads and additional learning activities about the life cycle of frogs.
5 Facts about Frogs
Notebook page with 5 facts about frogs.
Descriptive life cycle of frogs page
Good page for lapbook or notebook. Includes descriptions and illustrations of each phase of the life cycle of a frog.
Frog Shapebook
cover of shapebook
Frog Shapebook (interior)
lined inside pages of shapebook
My Frog Booklet
Nice for a lapbook or notebook page or just on its own. Mini book has a place for children to write 1.) What they know about frogs 2.) What they want to know about frogs 3.) What they learned about frogs. Younger children can dictate the answers to parent/teacher.
what I learned about Frogs
Notebook page for older children to write a short essay. Includes illustration to color.
Frog Life Cycle craft template
download the template to this craft illustrating the lifecycle. Can be used for lapbook.
Stand-Up Frog Craft
create a stand-up frog
Tadpole Transformation
Students make a tadpole puppet and learn the meaning of the term metamorphosis. This is a great craft that goes through each phase of the metamorphosis. Great to do along with your tadpole observation. Children can complete each step as their tadpoles do.
Grow A Frog Lesson Plan
Teachers manual from "Grow a frog"
Includes lesson plans, worksheets (also good for notebooking or lapbooks), timeline, metamorphosis observation notes, and nonfiction book references.
tree frog coloring page
coloring page of a tree frog
Poison Dart Frog coloring page
coloring page of poison dart frogs
fire-bellied toad coloring page
coloring page of fire-bellied toad

POEM: Five little Tadpoles

Five little tadpoles swimming near the shore.
The first one said, "Let's swim some more."
The second one said, "Let's rest awhile."
The third one said, "Swimming makes me smile."
The fourth one said, "My legs are growing long."
The fifth one said, "I'm getting very strong."
Five little tadpoles will soon be frogs.
They'll jump from the water and sit on logs.

Author unknown

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

when you cannot get enough of frogs!

Links to websites offering additional info, downloads, pics, video etc.
Interesting Facts and Research
Interesting facts and research about frogs for children.
frog tadpoles vs cane toad tadpoles
How to tell the difference between frog tadpoles and CANE TOAD tadpoles. Includes photos at each stage.

JOKES TO SHARE WITH LITTLE ONES

Q: Why are frogs always happy?
A: Because they eat whatever bugs them.

Q: What happens when two frogs catch the same fly?
A: They get tongue-tied!

Reader Feedback

Have you used this study? Have any tips or resources to share? Please add them in the guest book comments.

by

KarinKath

I am a writer and homeschooling mother of 4.

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