Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
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Pre-K Lesson Plan (Ages 3-4)
Learning Objectives
Develop listening skills through engaging with a rhyming story
Understand the core concept of working together with friends
Practice identifying animal movements like squirming and flapping
Materials
Procedure (30 minutes)
(5 mins) Introduction. Ask students: What are some ways you help your friends when you play together? How do you feel when you are working as part of a team? Can you show me how you wiggle like a worm or flap like a fish? What do you think makes a good teammate?
(10 mins) Watch the read along video together. Encourage students to listen for the rhyming patterns and the different actions the animals take.
(15 mins) Arts and Crafts. Have children draw their favorite animal from the story and discuss how that animal helped their friends.
Kindergarten Lesson Plan - Age 5
Learning Objectives
Identify the protagonist and antagonist in a narrative
Retell the sequence of events in the story
Discuss the theme of outsmarting bullies through cooperation
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(10 mins) Introduction. Ask students: Have you ever been in a situation where you had to solve a problem with a friend? What does the word bully mean to you and how does it make you feel? Why is it important to stand up for one another? If you had to hide from someone who was bothering you, where would you go?
(10 mins) Watch the read along video. Pause occasionally to ask students to predict what the animals might do next.
(20 mins) Collaborative Illustration. Students draw a scene where the animals work together to outsmart the fisherman. Discuss: How did the animals work together? Why was it important that they worked as a team instead of alone? What did the crocodile add to their plan?
(20 mins) Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author. Example questions to start: 'What inspired you to write this?', 'How did you choose the characters?'
1st Grade Lesson Plan - Age 6
Learning Objectives
Analyze the use of rhyme and rhythm in the text
Describe how character actions contribute to the plot
Compare and contrast the behavior of the different animal characters
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(10 mins) Introduction. Ask students: What are your favorite rhyming words? Why do you think authors use rhymes in books for children? How does a story change when it has a bouncy rhythm? Why do you think stories about animals are so popular to read?
(10 mins) Watch the read along video. During the second half, keep a list of all the rhyming pairs students identify.
(20 mins) Journal Reflection. Students write a short paragraph about how the Frog, Fish, and Worm used their unique skills to save the day. Discuss: Which animal had the most important job? Why was it helpful that they were all different? What would happen if they tried to stop the fisherman individually instead of together?
(20 mins) Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author. Example questions to start: 'What inspired you to write this?', 'How did you choose the characters?'
2nd Grade Lesson Plan - Age 7
Learning Objectives
Examine the structure of a humorous story
Discuss character motivations and conflict resolution
Create an alternative ending based on character traits
Materials
Procedure (45 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(10 mins) Introduction. Ask students: What makes a story funny to you? How do characters usually overcome obstacles in fairy tales or fables? What is a clever way someone might outsmart a person much larger than themselves? Why is humor an effective way to tell a story about a serious situation?
(10 mins) Watch the read along video. Note the specific moment the conflict reaches its peak.
(25 mins) Conflict Map Activity. Create a map on chart paper showing the conflict, the characters' plan, and the resolution. Discuss: Why did Stan the fisherman lose to the animals? What role did the toothless crocodile play in the group dynamic? How did the author balance the fear factor with the comedy? How would the story change if the crocodile was not involved?
(20 mins) Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author. Example questions to start: 'What inspired you to write this?', 'How did you choose the characters?'
Alternative Lesson Plan - Ages 3 - 7
Learning Objectives
Engage with literacy through multisensory learning
Develop problem-solving skills through roleplay
Express narrative understanding through creative play
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes)
(10 mins) Introduction. Ask students: If you were small and had to face a big problem, what tools would you use? How can teamwork change the outcome of a game or a task? Why is being creative better than being strong when solving a difficult puzzle?
(10 mins) Watch the read along video. Invite students to act out the movements of the animals as the video plays.
(20 mins) Roleplay Session. Divide the class into small groups to act out the story, focusing on how the animals communicate their plan to each other. Discuss: What does communication look like when you aren't using words? How did the animals know it was time to move together? Why do you think they felt confident enough to face Stan?