One of my favorite spring songs for toddlers and preschoolers is “5 Green and Speckled Frogs.” My 2-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, loves singing, so I wanted to have some special props on Montessori-inspired trays available for her. I love the idea of working with hands-on materials with the “5 Green and Speckled Frogs” song. I’ve put together three different options for home or classroom.
“5 Green and Speckled Frogs” – YouTube Video
My daughter-in-law, Chea, and I have both sung to Zoey since she was a baby. We make up lots of songs throughout the day. It’s a bit like Zoey has grown up in a musical. Now she loves to make up songs, too. She’s the one who spontaneously came up with the final verse of the song in this video! TOO CUTE!
“5 Green and Speckled Frogs” Resources and Activities
“5 Green and Speckled Frogs” Tray with Printable Props
I had a post with a “5 Green and Speckled Frogs” tray in my “Free Frog Printables and Montessori-Inspired Frog Activities” post.
Materials Used:
- Free Printable: Five Green and Speckled Frogs from Making Learning Fun
- Multicraft tray
- antique tray (any small container)
- Scotch Thermal Laminator
- laminating pouches
- Montessori Services rug
Last month, I had Zoey use the activity first as a number matching activity. She matched up each of the green frogs to a dotted frog. Then, as we sang the song she moved each green frog to the “pool.” Zoey had a lot of fun with this.
“5 Green and Speckled Frogs” Tray with Printable Frogs and Playdough Log
Here’s another cute option for a “5 Green and Speckled Frogs” tray.
Materials Used:
- Frog Numbers from Montessori-Inspired Frog Pack (subscriber freebie)
- Free frog printable (printed at 50% size) from Picklebums
- Scotch Thermal Laminator
- laminating pouches
- craft sticks
- glue gun
- Montessori Services Medium-Size Tray
- Playdough made with Zoey (like our Christmas playdough)
- Plastic Storage Container for Playdough from the Dollar Tree for holding props
- Glass from Montessori Services First Glass Set
“5 Green and Speckled Frogs” Tray with Number Frogs and Playdough Log
This tray uses real frog images with numbers for a Montessori-inspired activity focusing on both quantity and symbol.
Materials Used:
- Frog Numbers (printed at 50% size) from Montessori-Inspired Frog Pack (subscriber freebie)
- Scotch Thermal Laminator
- laminating pouches
- craft sticks
- glue gun
- Montessori Services Medium-Size Tray
- Playdough made with Zoey (like our Christmas playdough)
- Plastic Storage Container for Playdough from the Dollar Tree
- Glass from Montessori Services First Glass Set for holding props
- Realistic-Looking Flies (optional)
I used the blue tray because it was a simple, cleanable way to make the pool for the frogs. When Zoey finishes with the activity, she just has to put the playdough back in the container and wash the tray. (Which she loves. You can see how much she loves any washing activities in our handwashing song video!)
Zoey had SO MUCH FUN with this (as you can see in the video)! No, feeding flies to the frogs isn’t “Montessori,” but I don’t have any problems with it, especially in a home environment. I didn’t have flies on this particular tray, but I gave Zoey some flies from our other frog counting trays to see her response. I love what she did! 🙂
More Frog Resources
Montessori-Inspired Amphibian Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Frog Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, and DIY Movable Alphabet (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber) This is from our earlier unit with Free Frog Printables and Montessori-Inspired Frog Math Activities. It’s still available in our resource library!
You can see lots of amphibian books here.
- Free Amphibian Printables and Montessori-Inspired Amphibian Activities
- Free Amphbian Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Frog Printables and Montessori-Inspired Frog Math Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Frog Activities for Leap Year or Anytime
- Simple and Fun Frog Leap Activity for Kids {Free Printable}from ChrissyChitwood.com
- Free Frog Printables and Montessori-Inspired Frog Math Activities
- Free Frog Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Frog Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- “5 Green and Speckled Frogs” with Props and Free Printables
- Lots of Learning and Fun with Frogs Sensory Bin
- Montessori-Inspired Pond Unit
- Free Oviparous Animal Printables and Montessori-Inspired Oviparous Animal Activities
- Kids’ Frog and Leap Year Activities Pinterest Board
Do you have a favorite prop for “5 Green and Speckled Frogs”?
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Kathleen says
Thanks for sharing this great frog activity – we’ll be trying it out soon!
Lady Lilith says
These are such great ideas.