The Life Cycle of a Frog: From Tadpole to Frog

Learning about science includes learning about the world around us and all the changes that take place. Learning about life cycles is a big part of that. These tadpole to frog lesson plans will teach your students all about the stages in the life cycle of a frog.

Science textbook or From Tadpole to Frog by Wendy Pfeffer

Flow chart—one per student

Crayons/markers

Pencils

Frog and tadpole pictures

Frog life cycle labels—one set per student

Scissors

Manila paper

Glue or glue sticks

Chart paper (optional)

If you have a flow chart, please use it. If not, they are easy to make. Simply draw five large rectangles with arrows coming off the right side of the first four boxes. The rectangles simply need to be arranged in a single line if possible. If not, you can put three on top and two on bottom.

Bring in a picture of a tadpole and a frog. Ask students to identify what is in each picture. See if students know that it is the same animal.

Show students the cover of From Tadpole to Frog if you are using it. If not, you can also read from your science textbook. Read about the life cycle of a frog, and the stages that a tadpole goes through to become a frog. When you have finished reading the information, discuss it with your students. Talk about the stages of the life cycle. Talk about what happens in each stage of the life cycle: egg, tadpole, tadpole with legs, froglet, and adult. Make a list of the stages of the life cycle on the chalkboard or on chart paper.

Pass out the flow charts that you are using. Explain that students will illustrate what happens in each stage of the life cycle of a frog. There is a box for each stage. So, in the first box, students will draw a picture to represent the egg stage. Have them label the stage underneath the picture. Depending on the level of your students, you can have them write a short description of each stage.

Have them finish the graphic organizer by completing the illustrations for the remaining stages. Have them label each stage. Circulate and assist as needed. These graphic organizers will help students be able to recall the stages in the life cycle of a frog. They also make a great hallway decoration, or you can use them as a bulletin board display. A wonderful title would be, “From a Tadpole to a Frog.”

Before you do the assessment, you will need to make frog life cycle labels for students to use. Simply do this by typing out the stages a tadpole goes through to become a frog. Be sure to type them out-of-order and leave enough space for students to cut out between them. Then, print one and make enough copies for each student to have one.

Pass out the labels, Manila paper, scissors, and glue. Have students cut out the stages and glue them onto the Manila paper in the order in which they happen. You can also have students draw an illustration next to each stage.

Teach about the life cycles of other animals. Use this life cycle of an insect lesson plan found right here at Bright Hub to add to your unit.