Real Frogs and Toads Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will compare real frogs and toads to the fictional characters in Frog and Toad Are Friends.

 

Science Focus:

frogs and toads

 

CCSS:

SL.1.2 Discuss a video; L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases; RI.1.1 Key details; L.1.6 Vocabulary; RI.1.3 Compare/contrast; RI.1.8 Text evidence; W.1.2 Writing; RI.1.10 Read and discuss first-grade texts, RF.1.3 Decode words

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  • Before watching It’s a Frog!, ask children what they already know about frogs. Have they ever seen a frog in real life? What did it look like? How did it move?
  • After watching, have children turn and tell a partner one new thing they learned about frogs. (SKILL: SL.1.2 Discuss a video)
  • Play the vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are fiction, communicate, message, and waterproof. (SKILL: L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases)
  • First, read Arnold Lobel’s story Frog and Toad Are Friends.
  • Then read the issue together.
  • Get kids up and moving with the Dance Break video.
  • Finally, project and discuss the reading checkpoint skill sheet. Later, children can fill in their own copies. (SKILL: RI.1.1 Key details)

 

  • In this fun search-and-find game, kids practice pond vocabulary while keeping their eyes sharp! (SKILL: L.1.6 Vocabulary)
  • Kids compare and contrast real frogs and toads with the characters from the book, using a Venn diagram. (SKILL: RI.1.3 Compare/contrast)
  • Kids practice text evidence the fun way, with another letter from our resident “expert,” Norbert! He thinks he knows it all, but kids know better! They can write him back to correct him at [email protected]. Norbert will write back! (SKILLS: RI.1.8 Text evidence, W.1.2 Writing)
Lily pads with words on them

Objective: Children will practice reading sight words as they play a movement game.

Materials: green construction paper, masking tape

  • In advance, write sight words on sheets of construction paper. Then tape the sheets to the floor in a zigzag pattern. These will be the “lily pads.” Space the sheets so kids can get from one to the next with a small stretch.
  • Have kids take off their shoes and socks and line up behind the lily pads. Then play some music! When the music stops, kids have to read the sight word written on their lily pad!
  • A variation of the game is to do it outdoors, making the lily pads with sidewalk chalk. You can also turn it into a math skills game by writing addition and subtraction problems on the lily pads instead! (SKILL: RF.1.3 Decode words)