FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast

Students create a puppet using a painted paper bag and construction paper and then use the puppet to report on their research of the life cycle of a frog.

Required Time

80 Minutes

Grade Level

Kindergarten to Grade 3

Subject

Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Visual Arts

Vocabulary

circle construction paper contrast curl rectangle semi-circle shape square

Materials

Crayola Washable No-Run School Glue Crayola Scissors Crayola Washable Project Paint - Green Crayola Paint Brush Set - 5 Count Crayola Construction Paper - 22.9 cm x 30.5 cm (9" x 12") Crayola Glitter Glue Crayola Broad Line Markers - 8 Count Paper Lunch Bags - 1 per student Water Containers Paper Towels Index Cards - 4 per student Pencils Heavy Weight Paper - 21.5 cm x 27.9 cm cm (4 ¼" x 5 ½") per student

Shop Crayola Products

Steps

FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step One

Step One

  1. Paint the bag green.
FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step Two

Step Two

  1. Cut out two large circles for outside of the eyes.
  2. Cut out two smaller circles and place them inside the larger circles.
  3. Use glue to attach both circles together.
  4. Add both eyes to the top of the paper bag. 
FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step Three

Step Three

  1. Use heavier paper to make stencils for the legs. 
  2. Draw two different legs, one for the front and one for the back. 
  3. Cut them out.
FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step Four

Step Four

  1. Use the stencils to trace the four legs onto the construction paper.
  2. Cut out the legs.
FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step Five

Step Five

  1. Put glue on the edge of the legs. 
  2. Glue all four legs in place on the back of the painted side of the bag.
FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step Six

Step Six

  1. Use scrap pieces of construction paper to add details to your frog.
  2. Use contrasting colours so the details will stand out. 
  3. Cut out a circle a little bigger than the frog's eyes.
  4. Cut the circle in half to make two semi-circles for the eyelids.
  5. Try to make both eyelids equal.
  6. Glue the semi-circles on top of the eyes to make eyelids.
FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step Seven

Step Seven

  1. Draw a tongue.
  2. Remember frogs like to catch insects that fly.
  3. Wrap the paper tongue around the handle of a paintbrush to curl the paper.
FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step Eight

Step Eight

  1. Use glitter glue to add special details to your frog.
  2. Your frog puppet is now ready for you to use when you share the life cycle of a frog with your class.
FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step Nine

Step Nine

  1. Write each stage of the life cycle of the frog on a separate file card.
  2. Draw a picture to go with your writing.
FROG PUPPET – Shape, Colour, Contrast - Step Ten

Step Ten

  1. Use your puppet to present the life cycle of the frog to the class.
  2. Work with a partner to practice reporting. Remember to: 
    - Speak with a clear voice
    - Look at your audience
    - Hold the puppet to the side so you are facing the audience

Learning Goals

Students will be able to:

  • create a frog puppet using a paper bag, paint and construction paper;
  • use geometric shapes to create details;
  • use the puppet to report the stages of the life cycle of a frog;
  • demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity; 
  • support their ideas with evidence found in the works.

Extensions

Have students:

  • ​work in small groups to create a short story;
  • use their puppets to present it, e.g., The Three Little Frogs. 

Prepare

  1. Download images of frogs from the Internet, or find images in books or magazines.
    Frog 
    Green Frog
    Garden Frog
  2. Download the Colour and Shape posters  available on this website.
  3. Gather and make available picture books about frogs, for example, Frog and Toad, by Arnold Lobel; Two Frogs, by Chris Wormell (Fiction); The Life Cycle of a Frog, by Bobbi Kalmar (Non-Fiction); Fabulous Frog, Martin Jenkins (Non-Fiction).
  4. Prior to this lesson have children research the life cycle of a frog (egg, tadpole, froglet and adult). 
  5. Prior to this lesson introduce or review the meaning of warm and cool colours.
  6. Prior to this lesson have students explore colour mixing using primary colours to create a variety of new colours.
  7. Create a sample puppet.

Introduction

  1. Read a non-fiction story about the life cycle of a frog. 
  2. List the stages on a chart paper.
  3. Have students take turns using your sample puppet to explain one step of the cycle to the class. Encourage each student to:
    - Speak with a clear voice
    - Look at your audience
    - Hold the puppet to the side so you are facing the audience
  4. Introduce the challenge.

Activities

The Challenge

  1. Create a frog puppet using a paper bag, paint and construction paper.
  2. Use geometric shapes to create details.
  3. Use your puppet to report the stages of the life cycle of a frog.
  4. Demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity.
  5. Support your ideas with evidence found in the works.

The Process

  1. Ensure that everyone understands the challenge.
  2. Establish success criteria with your students, for example,
    I know I am successful when I have:
    - painted the bag a frog colour
    - cut shapes carefully
    - used geometric shapes for details
    - used a small amount of glue to glue shapes in place
    - glued shapes so they stick in place
    - used my own ideas to make a unique frog
    - used contrasting colours so shapes would stand out
    - kept the paper in good condition
  3. Guide students through the steps outlined in this lesson plan.
  4. Demonstrate where to paint the bag [front only] 
  5. Remind students that they can use any other colours of construction paper. This can be a realistic or fantasy frog puppet.
  6. Observe students as they work.
  7. Provide individual assistance and encouragement.

Sharing

  1. Once all the puppets are complete ask students to share them in partners or small groups. 
    Ask them to:
    - Look closely at the puppets and how they are made.
    - Share thoughts about the work.
    - Talk about how shape, detail and colour are used to create a unique puppet.
    - Discuss the use of more than one colour.
    - Talk about what was difficult about making the puppet and why.
    - Tell what was satisfying about making the puppet and explain why.
  2. Ask some students to share their ideas with the whole class.
  3. Display the puppets so students can view them as a body of work throughout the next few weeks. (Tip - Standing them on an empty water bottle helps them stand securely.)
     

Assessment

  1. Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting.
  2. Observe students as they discuss their puppets – speaks with a clear voice, looks at audience while speaking, points to areas in the puppet, provides accurate information, answers questions from the audience effectively.
  3. Observe students as they listen – looks at presenter, asks effective questions, supports ideas with evidence found in the artwork.
  4. Use a checklist to track progress. (Download – Frog_tracking.pdf)
  5. Have students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Download – Frog_self-assessment.pdf)

Downloads

Similar Lessons

SUPER STUFFY PUPPET – Form, Colour, Pairs

LIFE CYCLE OF A FROG – Shape, Colour Mixing

I HAVE A STORY TO TELL – Rod Puppet, Colour, Detail