Big Wide-Mouth Frog Activities: Reading, Puppet Craft & Story Fun

Engage kids with "The Big Wide-Mouth Frog" using fun activities! Includes reading prompts, comprehension questions, a step-by-step frog puppet craft tutorial, story sequencing, and more ideas for preschool and early elementary learners.

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Welcome, Super Reader!

Today, we're going on an adventure with a very curious frog who has a very BIG, wide mouth! Get ready to read, laugh, and create.

Warm-Up: Animal Chat (5 mins)

Let's think about animals. What animals have big mouths? What do different animals eat? What sound does a frog make? Can you make a big, wide mouth like a frog? Can you make a small, tiny mouth like a mouse?

Pre-Reading Fun (5 mins)

Look at the cover of the book, "Big Wide-Mouth Frog". What do you think this story might be about? What kind of character do you think the frog will be? Let's predict what kinds of animals the frog might meet.

Reading Time! (10-15 mins)

Let's read the story together! As we read, pay attention to what the frog asks each animal he meets. Encourage making the 'big wide mouth' when the frog speaks and a 'small puckered mouth' at the end. Emphasize the repeating question.

Checking Our Understanding (5-10 mins)

  • Who is the main character? (The Big Wide-Mouth Frog)
  • What question does the frog ask every animal? ("I'm a big wide-mouthed frog and I eat FLIES! What do YOU eat?")
  • What animals did the frog meet? (Blue-feathered bird, furry brown mouse, big green alligator)
  • What did the bird eat? (Wriggly worms and slugs)
  • What did the mouse eat? (Crunchy seeds and juicy berries)
  • What did the alligator eat? (Delicious big wide-mouthed frogs!)
  • What happened to the frog's mouth when he met the alligator? Why? (It got very small because he was scared and didn't want the alligator to know he was a wide-mouthed frog).
  • How did the story end?

Activity 1: Make Your Own Big Wide-Mouth Frog! (15-20 mins)

Let's make our own frog puppet!

  1. Fold a piece of green construction paper in half hamburger-style (short sides together).
  2. Keep it folded, and fold it in half again the same way.
  3. Unfold the last fold. You should have a crease in the middle.
  4. Fold the outer edges in to meet the center crease. It should look like an accordion or the letter 'M' from the side.
  5. Cut out a long, thin strip of red paper for the tongue.
  6. Glue the tongue inside one of the middle folds, so it sticks out when the mouth opens.
  7. Draw, cut out, and glue on two white circles for eyes near the top fold. Add black dots for pupils. Or, use googly eyes!
  8. Now you can make your frog talk and show off its big, wide mouth! Practice the different mouth shapes from the story.

Activity 2: Story Sequencing (10 mins)

What happened first, next, and last in the story? Let's put the events in order. Use pictures of the animals or simple drawings/descriptions on paper (e.g., "Frog meets Bird", "Frog meets Mouse", "Frog meets Alligator", "Frog makes small mouth"). Arrange them in the correct sequence the frog met them.

Wrap-up & Review (5 mins)

What was your favorite part of the story? What did we learn from the Big Wide-Mouth Frog? (Maybe it's good to know when *not* to have such a big mouth!) Can you retell the story using your frog puppet?

Extension Ideas (Optional)

  • Animal Research: Choose one animal from the book and learn more about what it *really* eats.
  • Creative Writing: Imagine the frog meets another animal. Write or draw what happens next.
  • Sound Off: Practice making the sounds of all the animals in the story.