Preschool Science Experiments, Lessons and Activities » Frogs

Frogs – Preschool Lesson Plan

Lisa — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:19:37 +0000

Learning about frogs can be very exciting for the preschool child. They are fascinating creatures who’s metamorphosis is very interesting to watch.

If you are unable to catch your own tadpoles for your classroom they can be purchased year round. Bullfrog Tadpoles

Whole Group Introduction

What is an amphibian? The word amphibian means “double life.” Amphibians live the first part of their life in water and the second part mostly on land. They are cold-blooded and have smooth skin.

• Difference between a frog and a toad – Toads have dry skin with warts. They live on land. They walk rather than hop. Frogs live in or near water and have no warts.

• Life-cycle of a frog – egg, tadpole, froglet, frog.

• Where do frogs live? – In or near water on every continent except Antarctica.

• What do frogs eat? – Typically bugs or worms.

Chart of Frog Facts

4500 species in the world. 180 in the U.S. And Canada.

Frogs drink and breath through their skin

They have big, round ears on the side of their head

Bullfrogs leave tracks with their bellies as well as their toes

Frogs live on all continents except Antarctica and Iceland

The largest frog is the Goliath frog. He has a 1 foot long body and is 2.5 feet long with his legs stretched.

Some tree frogs live their entire lives in a tree

Some frogs have webbed toes. Some do not!

Lesson Activity
Frog Hands

Frog Hands

Lisa — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:18:31 +0000

This is the first activity in the preschool biology lesson plan Frogs.

Activity: Frog hands

Materials:

Plastic sandwich bags

Procedure:

1. Have the children spread their fingers out and run them through a sink/bowl full of water.
2. Now have them place a small sandwich bags on their hand.
3. Have them spread their fingers out inside the bag and run them through the water again.

Questioning:

What did the children notice?

How do webbed feet help the frog?

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Frog Metamorphosis

Lisa — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:03:37 +0000

The best way to have children understand the metamorphosis of the frog is to have them observe the change. This Frog Hatchery Kit allows the children to observer every stage of development from egg to frog.

This following activity will help reinforce what the stages of frog metamorphosis for your preschool children.

Materials:

Paper plates
Construction paper
Hole punch
Paper fasteners

Procedure:

Help students to trace and cut an oval shape on the paper plate. This will serve as the tad pole/frog body. Cut two (2) front legs, a tail, and two (2) back legs from the construction paper.

Explain that tad poles change and that change is a good thing.

1. Start by attaching the tail to the tad pole body with a paper fastener.

2. Explain that as the tad pole gets older, he grows hind legs and becomes a froglet (attach the hind legs and front legs with fasteners).

3. When he matures, he loses his tail and is now a frog.

Life cycle: egg => tad pole => froglet => frog

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How Frogs Eat

Lisa — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:02:13 +0000

This game will help your children understand and remember how many frogs eat.

Materials:

Paper party blowers
Velcro
Plastic flies/bugs

Procedure:

1. Attach a small piece of Velcro to each bug
2. Attach the complementary piece of Velcro to the end of a party blower
3. Give each child a party blower
4. Children aim the party blower at the bugs and catch them by blowing
5. Add music for “musical bugs”.

This demonstrates how frogs catch bugs with their tongues.

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