Today’s book is Beware of the Frog by William Bee, one of my favorite frog books. This book can feel a little scary for preschoolers but most of my classes through the years have requested it over and over again. If your child feels spooked by it please skip this one!
Storytime Activity Guide:
Watch the video, pausing as needed, and then explore some of these fun activities!
Materials:
(If you need any materials, please let me know and I will put together a box for you to pick up)
Bubble wrap- a bubble mailer works great!
Paint- watercolors or watered down tempera
markers/crayons/colored pencils
Paper
Origami paper or any paper cut to a 6” square
Measuring tape or yard stick
Prep:
Cover table with tablecloth
Set up supplies in easy reach
Find a place in the yard with room to jump and measure
Open Ended Project: Bubble Wrap Frog Eggs
Using any plain paper and a piece of bubble wrap, cover a (paper-sized) piece of bubble wrap with paint- any color is fine. Print the bubbles on the paper and let dry. Use a pen or pencil to fill in some of the bubbles with little black dots to represent the frog eggs. Add black dots with little tails to represent tadpoles that are about to hatch, and add swimming tadpoles too!
Art Activity #1: Frog Drawing
Using a single sheet of paper, encourage kids to draw a frog as big as possible. Add fun details from the book like glasses, a hat, necklace, bow tie and maybe even some snails! Make it bright green or any color they want! It helps to talk about the different features of a frog: Body/Head, Legs, Big Eyes, Tongue etc.
Extension: Ask a family member to try to find the hidden snails in your picture!
Art Activity #2: Origami Frog
Make a frog with origami paper. This will need some adult help for some of the folds but kids are expert creasers so be sure to use their skills! See if you can make the frog jump!
Art Activity #3: Frog Jumps
How far can you frog jump?
Go outside to a large, flat spot. Draw a line with chalk or lay a piece of yarn or string for the starting line. Squat down and practice jumping like a frog. When you’re ready, move to the starting line and do your biggest frog jump. Stay where you land and ask a sibling or parent to measure and record your jump. Do this a few times to see what your farthest jump is!
If you’re on instagram, I’d love to see what you make and do! Use #honeybeestorytimeart so I can see it too. If you or your kids are enjoying this, please feel free to share it with friends who might also enjoy it!
Thanks for encouraging a love of art and stories with your children, it means a lot to me!