Active Learning
- Tadpole's Promise
- Powerful words and phrases
- Sequencing a frog lifecycle
- Questions, questions!
Frog lifecycle
English Reception
This unit is part of
Reception English Animal Lifecycles
Creating and Thinking Critically
- Sequence the story
- Labels
- Writing about lifecycles
- Comparison sentences
Exploring and Playing
- Jelly frogs
- Small world
- Frog dough
- Frog explorers
Books to Share
- Enjoy Tadpole’s Promise. Define promise, i.e. saying that you will do something. Identify the promise that tadpole makes. Ask children to share the promises they have made. Consider why it is important to keep promises. Discuss how it feels when promises are kept and broken.
- Display the text lifecycle of a frog (resources). Read each sentence aloud, using phonics and HFWs. Note the sequencing words opening each sentence. Order sentences correctly.
- Show a picture of a frog/tadpole (resources). Identify different body parts. Say labels give information about a picture. Model adding labels. Can children help you using phonics/HFWs to spell.
- Show contents page of Tadpoles and Frogs. Read headings and say they may provide info to answer questions. Generate a question and select an appropriate heading. Read facts. Orally prepare and rehearse an answer. Demonstrate writing the sentence using correct punctuation.
Poetry/Rhyme of the Week: The Tadpole by Elizabeth Gould
Share poem. Rehearse at suitable times throughout the week, e.g. start/end of day. Help children vary pitch/tone of voice to stress words/phrases. Consider recording and showing it on school website.
Group Reader: Elver the Eel
Follow the journey of Elver the eel as he travels across the world to find a place to live and grow. See Elver and his friends avoid dangers from land and sea on their long journey and learn more about how the eels adapt as they grow and move. This beautifully illustrated text is great to use alongside a topic on lifecycles.
You Will Need
Essential text
Tadpole’s Promise by Jeanne Willis
Desirable text
Tadpoles and Frogs by Anna Millbourne
Resources
Measuring jug, spoon, raisins or basil seeds, tweezers, small world frogs, packet of green jelly
Small-world ‘pond’ accessories
Frogspawn, magnifying glasses