Fabulous Frogs!
Today we are celebrating National Frog Jumping Day and those wonderful, fascinating, fabulous amphibians — the frog!
Can you jump as far as an American Bullfrog? How about a South African sharp nose frog? Test your jumping skills as we learn about standard and nonstandard measurements and explore the fabulousness of all things frog! Below are activities that all have a Fabulous Frogs! theme. These activities include things that will help your child develop fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving and engineering skills, and can help them engage in cooperative play, while fostering creativity and perseverance. Each theme also comes with recommended literature and movie connections. Feel free to throw in your own activities that might relate, and don’t forget to post your results to social media and tag @discoverymuse to share with everyone else!
Science: Let’s Learn About Frogs
Here are some additional resources to learn about our froggie friends:
- Frog Or Toad?
- San Diego Zoo — Fantastic Frogs
- National Geographic for Kids: Fun Frog Facts
- Check out these frogs and toads native to Winchester –– their calls show up in our frog video!
Hop To It! Physical Activities That Will Have YOU Jumping Like a Frog!
How far does a South African sharp nose frog jump? How about a grasshopper? A red kangaroo? In this activity, you will test your jumping abilities against some very cool amphibians, insects, and mammals as you learn about standard and nonstandard measurement.
Try Now!
You Will Need:
- 8 cups
- 8 animals (use ours or research your own)
- Index cards or paper
- Marker, pencil, or crayon
- Masking tape
- Tape measure
Directions:
- Decide what 8 mammals, insects, frogs you want to compare. You can use ours or you can research your own.
- Collect 8 cups, fill them with rocks to keep them from falling over. Make an index card for each of your animals (name and how far it jumps) and tape it to the cup.
- Find a safe, open space with plenty of room to jump.
- Put masking tape at your starting line. Use your marker to label it 0 feet.
- Use your tape measure to measure out 30 feet. Every 5 feet, place a strip of masking tape and label it (5 feet, 10 feet, 15 feet, 20 feet, 25 feet, 30 feet.) These are standard measurements (units of measurement typically used, such as feet, inches, meters, etc.)
- Place your cups (mammals, insects, frogs) where they would typically land when jumping. In our example, the elephant will be on the 0 foot line and the red kangaroo will be on the 25 feet line.
- Now, test your jumping ability. Stand on the 0 foot line and see how far you can jump. Do it 2-3 times. Your average jump is going to become our nonstandard unit of measurement (a unit of measurement not typically used, like a teddy bear, a shoe, a Dr. Diane, a YOU).
- How many YOU measurements (how many jumps) does it take to reach an American bullfrog? A rabbit? A cheetah?
- You can play many variations of this game. What if the nonstandard unit of measurement is your grown-up’s jump? What happens if it is your little brother or sister?
Extension: Look closely at the legs of the mammals, frogs, and insects you used for this activity. How do they compare in size? How do they compare to each other? How do they compare to a human’s legs? What are some ways human and frog legs are the same and different in size, shape, and the way they move?
Learn More!
- How Frogs Got Their Vertical Leap
- Frog Jumps Caught in Slow Motion by National Geographic
Apply Now! More Ideas for Frog Jumping and Physical Activity!
Art Activity/Fine Motor Activity Ideas
- Create a Frog Pond Sensory Bin
- Create Origami Frogs and Make Them Jump
- Cute Frog Crafts Using Recycled Materials
Fabulous Frog Movie/Literature/Music Connections:
Because we know you’re stuck at home with limited access to movies and books, we tried to compile a list that connects to today’s theme that you might already have in your collection or be able to access online. These include the following:
Being Frog Read Aloud With Handley Regional Library
More Froggie Read Alouds
- I’m a Frog by Mo Willems
- Frogs by Gail Gibbons
- I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt
Frog-Related Movies and Videos
- A Year With Frog and Toad — full musical, performed by Nipomo Theatre Company
- Frog and Toad Are Friends
- The Muppet Show
Don’t Forget the Froggie Music!
- A Year with Frog and Toad — original Broadway cast recording
- Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog and the Muppets
- Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog — Three Dog Night
