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Fat Frogs on a Skinny Log Lesson
Lesson Plan: Fat Frogs on a Skinny Log
Age Group: Pre-K (3–5 years)
Length: 30 minutes
Book: Fat Frogs on a Skinny Log by Sara Riches
Learning Objectives
Literacy: Listen and respond to a story, recall details, and use descriptive language.
Math: Practice counting, comparing sizes (fat vs. skinny, and positional words (on, off, next to).
Motor Skills: Develop gross motor coordination through movement activities.
Social-Emotional: Practice turn-taking and group participation.
Materials
Book: Fat Frogs on a Skinny Log
Green frog cutouts (laminated if possible)
Large “log” (taped line on the carpet, a foam pool noodle, or a long strip of paper)
Small pond props (blue paper, felt, or a blue scarf)
Schedule & Activities
1️⃣ Welcome & Warm-Up (3–4 min)
Song: “Five Green and Speckled Frogs” (short version)
Invite children to hop like frogs to the circle.
Briefly introduce the book:
“Today we are going to read about some very fat frogs who love to balance on a skinny log. What do you think will happen when they all try to sit together?”
2️⃣ Read Aloud (8–10 min)
Read Fat Frogs on a Skinny Log with expression.
Encourage participation:
Predicting: “Do you think the log can hold another frog?”
Counting: “How many frogs are there now?”
Positional Words: “Are the frogs on the log or in the pond?”
Pause to emphasize rhyming words and fun sounds.
3️⃣ Interactive Math/Movement Game (7–8 min)
“Frogs on a Log Balance Game”
Lay down a taped “log” line.
Invite children to take turns balancing like frogs on the log as you count together.
Ask:
“How many frogs are on the log now?”
“Is it getting crowded?”
“What might happen if more frogs join?”
Let children gently jump “into the pond” (blue scarf) at the end.
4. Closing Reflection & Goodbye (3 min)
Goodbye Song: “Hop, Hop, Goodbye” (to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It).
Goodbye Song: “Hop, Hop, Goodbye”
(to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
