Are the social norms in the book beneficial for all the animals? Will the animals be better off if there are no rules? For this memory matching game, start by printing, laminating, and cutting out pictures and illustrations of your students’ favorite characters from Frog on a Log? , along with their corresponding seat (i.e. a cat and a mat, a gopher and a sofa, etc.). Create enough sets for teams of one or two students to play with one another. An interesting reference supporting the philosophical claim put forward by Cat is Plato’s Republic, in which Plato describes a hypothetical utopian city in which each citizen is assigned a task to perform. The tasks are assigned based on skill, as each person ought to do the task for which he is best suited. Plato argues that it would be unjust for one member of the society to assume the role and responsibilities of another, as he would no longer be ensuring the efficiency of the society. Do you think Frog is behaving unjustly and disrupting the flow of the animal kingdom by refusing to sit on a log and attempting to sit on other animals’ spots ( e.g. sofas, stools, and chairs)? Is it wrong for Frog to take other animals’ seats solely because he is unhappy with his own? Some philosophers believe Plato’s work about human nature to be too optimistic about the personal interest of human beings and an underestimate of people’s capabilities. In Frog on a Log, Frog challenges what Cat presents as an “ideal society,” in which there is an established system of responsibilities which all the animals must follow. Do you think the “ideal society” is completely against human (or animal) nature and should be abandoned?

Careful if moving pots or wheelie bins, especially in hot weather, as amphibians can be hiding out under them where it is nice and damp Some garden ponds may have the scarce and protectedgreat crested newt, while some gardens, especially in south east England, may have non-native green marsh frogs Small amphibians can be predated by birds and other predators, growing plants around the poolwill provide some cover

Now, it’s the next team’s turn to try to find a match! The team with the most matches wins. For an extra challenge, replace some of the pictures with words. Original questions and guidelines for philosophical discussion by Emily Crocco and Catrice Zhao. Edited June 2020 by The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics. After Frog’s attempted justification of his refusal to sit on a log, Cat says that one’s seat is not based on comfort, but merely on “doing the right thing.” What, in this case, is the right thing, and how does sitting on certain things make something right or wrong? This book presents many different animals and objects with names meant to rhyme with one another. Although there are supporting pictures and the children will most likely understand the book’s examples, without knowing what the words are, a brief description of the various, non-everyday animals and objects would be beneficial for a deeper enjoyment of the story. Hare, Pillar, Stool, Gopher, Mule, Newt, Puffin, Gibbon, Stork, and Plow are examples of such vocabulary words. Guidelines for Philosophical Discussion

Beginner-level books with funny plots, relatable characters, and eye-catching visuals help develop a lifelong enthusiasm for reading. The Frog on a Log series fits the bill perfectly: It makes classroom storytime fun (and boosts skills!) for students in grades PreK-1.Frog on a Log? is about a bossy cat who tells a curious frog what each animal sits on — for example, a lion sits on an iron. The entertaining picture book is filled with rhyming text and repetition to help increase phonemic awareness.

In the end, Frog decides to do what he ought to and sit on the log, only to be sat on by a dog. In this case, acting in a way that satisfies his role in this animal society is to his detriment, and refusing to do so would have been self-preserving. Can it be beneficial not to do what you ought to? Questions for Philosophical Discussion RightsUnsatisfied with his assigned seat on a log, Frog asks Cat several questions about whether or not he may sit on certain objects and where other animals should sit. Cat attempts to provide a lesson in animal responsibilities via a tour of various animals and their special places to sit. Allow new ponds to become colonised naturally by amphibians that are likely to be already present in the area, rather than transferring spawn or tadpoles. This reduces the risk of spreading infection and diseases which can kill amphibians Is it wrong for someone not to do something they are supposed to do, because it makes them uncomfortable? If your students love the rhyming read-aloud Frog on a Log?, extend their learning beyond story time with engaging activities surrounding this series. From addition and subtraction to sight word practice, here are three fun ways to help your students meet their reading goals, while learning new skills from one of their favorite books!

After they glue the frog on the log, hand out pictures that depict words from the -og word family — think hog, fog, cog, bog, dog, jog, clog, smog, etc. — and then instruct students to glue the pictures onto their log next to the frog. For an extra challenge, ask students to write the words below each picture from the -og word family!Fish will eat spawn, tadpoles and other pond life so should not be introduced into a pond for amphibians Questions for Philosophical Discussion » Summary Frog on a Log examines questions about rights, responsibilities, and personal identity. Adult amphibians often spend time out of water, especially over winter. In the autumn, many amphibians seek sheltered places away from pondswhere they shelter until the following spring.