Are you looking for an engaging preschool theme to use in your classroom this spring? A frog unit is always a great choice! There are so many ways that you can incorporate this fun theme into your daily learning routine. In this post, I’m going to share some of my favorite activities to include in your frog lesson plans for preschool.
7 Activities to Include in Your Frog Lesson Plans
A quick Pinterest search can easily overwhelm you with activity choices as you put together frog lesson plans for your preschool class. That’s why I wanted to narrow it down to some of my favorite activities to include in a frog unit. These activity ideas will help students practice a wide range of skills while also learning fun facts about frogs.
1. Learn About Frogs
The first thing I like to include in a themed lesson plan of any kind is a nonfiction read aloud that can help students build on their knowledge of the topic. A frog lesson plan is no exception!
An anchor chart is a great place to document what students already know about frogs before you dive into a nonfiction read aloud with your class. Then, as you read and discuss the text, you can also document the new things that students have learned about frogs. The anchor chart will come in handy throughout the frog unit, so it’s a good idea to keep it on display throughout the week.
2. Frog Life Cycle
Another important addition to your frog lesson plans should be to teach about their life cycle. Preschoolers are always excited to learn about how frogs start as tadpoles that hatch from eggs.
They love to compare pictures of the different stages of the frog life cycle, since they can watch the tadpole’s tail disappear as the frog’s legs grow. This is such an interesting life cycle to study!
3. Frog Read Alouds
You should also leave plenty of time in your frog lesson plans for some other fun frog read-alouds! Engaging stories and poems about frogs can inspire a lot of meaningful practice with comprehension skills.
For example, you could read “A Frog in the Bog” by Karma Wilson to your students. This fun rhyming story can inspire a lot of discussions with your students. After reading the pattern of the frog eating an increasing number of insects and critters, students can predict what will happen when the frog sees a gator. It’s always so fun to hear their predictions!
After reading the story, students can also practice sequencing and retelling by putting illustrated story cards in the right order. This could be a fun literacy station or pocket chart activity! Themed read alouds are always a helpful addition to unit lesson plans because they allow students to practice new vocabulary while the topic is still at the top of their minds.
4. Frog Investigations
Frogs are such interesting creatures for preschoolers to learn about. From their skin that absorbs water to their strong jumping legs and long tongues, there are plenty of new things for students to explore during a frog unit.
You can do several fun investigations with students to help them learn more about how a frog uses its body. Students will be able to deepen their understanding of frogs with these hands-on activities that get them up and moving. Investigations like these are a great way to keep young students engaged in learning!
5. Frog Math Activities
The froggy fun doesn’t have to stop once you’re done learning facts about frogs. You can also incorporate the theme into your daily learning activities. Your students can strengthen their number sense skills as they practice counting, number formation, and more with these fun frog activities.
Whether you use these activities for math centers or small group practice, these frog math activities can help you bring some variety to skill practice. Since it takes a lot of repetition for young preschoolers to master new math skills, it’s always helpful when themed activities can keep things fresh and engaging for students.
6. Frog Craft
I always like to add extra fine motor practice to preschool lesson plans whenever possible, especially with crafts! This adorable frog craft is fun for preschoolers to make and can become a fun classroom display.
From the accordion-folded legs to the pencil-curled tongue, there are many fine motor tasks that will help students improve their hand strength and coordination. Crafts also give students the chance to become more comfortable with school tools like scissors and glue. Plus, crafts can help students practice following step-by-step directions.
7. Play Dough Mats
You can incorporate play dough mats into your themed learning for even more fine motor practice in your frog lesson plans! As students pinch, roll, and shape the play dough, they are building their hand strength and improving their hand-eye coordination.
These mats are perfect for learning stations or even free play time! Students will be able to practice some of the new vocabulary from the unit as they describe their creations to peers and staff.
Printable Frog Lesson Plans and Activities
All of the activities mentioned in this post (and many more!) can be found in one easy-to-download set of frog lesson plans for preschool. The materials in this unit are standards-based, hands-on, engaging, and developmentally appropriate for Pre-K, Transitional K, or 4-year-old students in a preschool or homeschool setting.
If you would like to take a closer look at everything included in this preschool frog unit, you can find it in my TPT store.
Do your preschoolers love themed learning? Be sure to check out some of my other preschool units! Your students will love this weather unit that includes a variety of rainbow-themed activities. It’s another great option for a spring preschool theme!
Save These Preschool Frog Activities
Be sure to save this post so you can come back to it later! Just add the pin below to your favorite preschool board on Pinterest. You’ll be able to quickly find these lesson plan ideas when you’re planning a frog unit for your preschoolers.
