Frogs And Fishes

Now that it is beginning to warm up and spring is in the air, we need to think about getting outside and looking at Mother Nature.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to take a trip to your local pond, stream or water's edge. When looking at the water, see the tadpoles, small fish and other water life there.

Did you know that after hatching from the egg, the tadpole, sometimes called a polliwog, is gill-breathing and legless and propels itself by means of a tail? During the period of metamorphosis, it develops the lungs, legs, and other organs of the adult and, in the frog and the toad, loses the tail. (http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/tadpole.aspx)

Did you know that tadpoles are vegetarians and as they lose their gills and get lungs, they then become meat eaters? They can even drown as adults if they cannot get to land to breathe.

Here is a paper puppet to make to help - and have fun - while you're learning about frogs and other aquatic life.

You will need a square piece of green paper, some scrap red and white paper, glue, scissors, markers and of course a small hand.

Picture 1: Supplies

Take your green paper and fold it into thirds. Glue the overlaying flaps to each other.

Picture 2: Tri-fold

Now take the tri-folded piece of paper and fold it in half to make the inside of the mouth.

Picture 3: First fold

Now take the edges and fold it back up to the centerfold. This is where your child’s hand will slip into place.

Picture 4: Folds

Cut out two hearts using a cookie cutter or a pattern of some sort. Glue them together except for the point end of the heart. Fold the pointed ends up to the curved part of the heart

Picture 5: Tongue

Now glue the folded-up pointed ends to the inside fold of the frog’s mouth.

Picture 6: Mouth

Cut four circles out of white paper fold up one edge of each circle to make the eyes attach to the frog. Color in the center of the frog’s eye black with a marker or crayon. Now glue the folds of the eyeball to the top of the frog.

Picture 7: Eyes

Now have your child close their nose and mouth and try to talk while keeping their lips shut. This will make a croaking sound. Make your frog talk.

Picture 8: Finished frog

This is a quick, easy and fun snack to take with you on picnics and visiting your local ponds.

You will need a small box of blue gelatin, some Swedish fish, and snack-sized zipper bags.

Picture 9: Supplies

Make the gelatin according to package directions and let chill in the fridge for about an hour or until partially set. Then pour some into zipper snack bags until the bags are just about filled. Add 4 or 5 of your fish to the gelatin.

Picture 10: Fishes

Place them back into the fridge until they are completely set up, then take a spoon, and enjoy your fish.

Picture 11: Finished Fish Pond!

Why are frogs so happy?
They eat whatever bugs them.