Hands-On Activities on the Life Cycle of Frogs

The life cycle of frogs can be taught using hands-on activities. These interactive experiences can prevent boredom and aid in retention of information. Tadpoles can be observed in home terrariums, frogs searched for in their natural habitat and the life cycle illustrated through crafts created by the learners. Each level of the life cycle, from tadpole through adult frog, can be understood to a greater depth if focused on interactively.

  1. Terrarium

    • Create your own terrarium to view the growth of tadpoles into mature frogs. You can convert an old fish tank into a terrarium one with minimal cost by adding rocks and stones to create a landing spot for the growing frogs. Fill the remaining space with water. Tadpoles can be found in the spring in ponds, still areas of creeks and puddles that never dry up. Scoop them up with a cup or jar, and place them in your home terrarium for a visual learning experience on how frogs grow up.

    Field Trip

    • Take a mini field trip to a neighborhood creek to see if you can identify a frog's habitat. A frog moves from being entirely water-based as tadpoles into semi-aquatic mature frogs. A walk around this environment can be a great place to discuss the life cycle of a frog and the impact of the immediate surroundings, and it may aid in remembering the facts. Make sure that each student remains within eyesight to prevent injury on often slippery stones and around tree stumps. Ask questions about frogs to keep learners engaged in the conversation as well as with the environment.

    Collage

    • Use craft paper and scissors to cut out the shapes of the frogs at different stages of their life. These images can be pasted on large paper for a giant collage or strung together with string for a wall hanging. The shapes of the legs may be challenging for young students, but they can be simplified for greater ease in drawing. These pictures can be wonderful decorations for the classroom or kitchen refrigerator.

    Puppets

    • Make puppets for each stage of a frog's life by gluing together small pompoms, pipe cleaners and googly eyes. These items can be found at craft stores. A tadpole, a froglet and a full-grown frog can all be shaped by these simple supplies. The act of creating each stage of a frog's life can help the student retain the information while providing an interactive activity.