Rhonda Soukup Jennifer
Witt
Professional School Counselor MSUM
Intern, 2003
Hidden Oaks Middle School Hidden
Oaks Middle School
Prior Lake, Minnesota Prior
Lake, Minnesota
Materials Needed: The book, Frog and Toad Are Friends
by Arnold Lobel, writing paper and color pencils.
Activity: Ask students to close their eyes and
think about a friend. Ask students
to think of things that they like to do with that friend. Allow students to share some of their
thoughts. Show students the cover
of the book, Frog and Toad Are Friends.
Read the title and the author together with the students. Ask students to make predictions about
what they think the story will be about and the kinds of activities the
characters will do together.
Remind the students to listen carefully to the story to see if their
predictions are correct. Read the
story aloud to the students. After
the completion of the book, discuss the following questions:
~How did Frog wake Toad up
from his long nap?
~Why did Toad give Frog a
coat that had so many buttons on it?
~Why didnŐt Toad want anyone to see him in the lake?
~When everyone was laughing
at ToadŐs bathing suit, what would you have done if you were in FrogŐs place?
~Why did Frog send Toad a
letter when he sees him in person every day?
Have the students
brainstorm different things that they like about one of their friends and
review the process of letter writing.
Using their ideas, have each student write a letter to their
friend. In the letter they will
tell their friend the things that they like about him/her and the things that
they enjoy doing with the friend. If the students' friends are in the same school,
they can give the letters directly to them. If their friends don't attend the
school, they may mail the letters.
Ask for volunteers to read their letters to the class. Explain to
children that they did this activity to show them one way to keep a friendship
strong. One way to keep a friendship strong is by reminding the person how much
his/her friendship means. By writing to their friends, the students are
reminding themselves and their friends how important their friendship is.
Friendship: Frog and Toad,
directly relates to Minnesota Graduation Standard; Read, Listen and View:
Interpretation and Evaluation.
This lesson specifically allows students to interpret and evaluate
information from an age-appropriate fiction selection by reading, viewing, and
listening and by making predictions based on information in the selection.
This lesson is also reflective of the Personal/Social and Educational developmental domains of the Minnesota School CounselorsŐ Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling. The lesson attaches itself to these domains by allowing the participants to reflect on the importance of friendship and on how to be a better friend to others. It also gives them an opportunity to practice reading, listening and writing skills.
References and Resources
Lobel, Arnold (1970). Frog and Toad Are Friends, Harper Collins Juvenile Books, New York, New York.
Lesson plan: www.buildingrainbows.com
For Further Information
Jennifer Witt
School Social Worker
Counseling Intern
Hidden Oaks Middle School
Prior Lake, MN
Phone: 952-226-0720
Fax: 952-226-0749
E-mail: jwitt@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us