Preschool Pond Theme

One of my favorite themes in preschool is a pond theme.  The kids love learning about ducks, frogs, turtles, and more.  Plus there are so many adorable pond themed crafts, books, games, and activities that it’s truly a fun unit to teach!

I created a fun alphabet game to use during my preschool pond theme, and my kids had so much fun.  It also gave me a great chance to do an informal assessment to see who recognized their capital letters and who didn’t.

At the end of this post, I have a FREE download so your little learners can play this fun froggy alphabet game, too!

Teaching about Frogs First

Before we played the game, I wanted the children to learn all about frogs.  We did this over the course of several days using a variety of videos and books.

This video is a great overview of information about frogs and toads for preschoolers.  It’s very engaging and keeps their attention for sure!

The next video is also perfect for your preschool pond theme.  It helps little learners understand the frog life cycle.  My pre-k children sang this song over and over throughout our pond habitat theme.

While you’re learning about frogs, this video is perfect for helping children tell the difference between frogs and toads. 

 

Favorite Frog Books

Another great way to teach children during your preschool pond theme is with fascinating nonfiction books.  I especially love using books that include real pictures.

1. Frogs- This book illustrates how frogs are found in several different habitats, not just ponds.  It also explains how frogs grow from tadpoles to adult frogs.

2. From Tadpole to Frog- Watch a tiny tadpole grow into an adult frog in this book full of facts and photographs. Learn what tadpoles eat, how they survive, and how they transform into frogs.

3. Life in the Pond- is one of my favorite books for introducing the pond habitat.  Text and photographs introduce ponds, and includes information on the plants found in ponds such as water lilies and cattails, and animals found in ponds such as fish, frogs, and ducks.

Real Life Frogs for your Preschool Pond Theme

Did you know that you can put pond water with frog eggs and tadpoles in a giant glass jar and leave it in your classroom for children to watch the entire life cycle of a frog?

I’ve done this in the past and it was fascinating even for me to watch the various stages of the frog life cycle.  If you don’t have access to a pond for your preschool pond theme, you could order a “Frog Growing Kit” instead!  Click on the image to check it out!

A Fun Alphabet Game for Small Groups

During your preschool pond theme, this froggy alphabet game is so much fun!  After studying frogs, ask your little learners how a frog catches its prey. (He flicks out his long tongue to catch flies and other insects.)

Introduce a party blower and show how you blow it and it flicks out like a long frog tongue.  The children go absolutely bonkers over this!  I like to pretend like some of them are flies and catch them with my party blower tongue.  They squirm, giggle, and yell “Me next!  Catch me!”

Next, show children the alphabet fly game mat.  I’ve programmed each fly with a capital letter.  Demonstrate how to blow the party blower and hit one of the flies with the “tongue.”  That means they’ve caught that fly!

Then they must name the letter and color in the fly.  Children keep playing until they’ve caught all the letters.  You’ll be amazed at the focus and engagement during this game.  It will be the highlight of your preschool pond theme activities!

Notice the adorable frog headband?  It’s so easy to make with white circles and green rectangles, and it really helps kids enjoy the game as fly-catching frogs even more!

Free Game Printable

Want to add this fun, hands-on alphabet game to your own preschool pond theme?  Download the free printables by clicking on the image below.

Be sure to purchase plenty of party blowers because your little learners will want to play this game again and again! ( I suggest purchasing the blowers that don’t make sound…lol!)