Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin

This frog life cycle sensory bin is a hands-on science and sensory experience that will introduce young kids to the life cycle of a frog. My kids highly enjoyed this!

Kids will learn about the life cycle of a frog with this realistic sensory bin.

This week the PLAYful Preschool theme is life cycles and the team has a TON of awesome lessons ready for you! Check out all their links below!

Evan has recently become intrigued by tadpoles and frogs, so I thought a frog life cycle sensory bin would be exciting for him. I decided to keep my sensory bin as realistic as possible because I knew he would expect something that looked like our neighborhood pond.

I think I achieved the realistic look and feel of a pond. Evan was impressed and super excited to dig his hands in and play!

Materials Needed:

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Frog life cycle figurines – I got mine at Michaels and used one of the 40% off coupons they always have.

Sand

Rocks/Stones – I bought a bag of pebbles and a bag of larger stones at the dollar store

How to Set Up the Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin

1. Pour a few cups of sand on one side of the sensory bin.

2. Place stones and pebbles along the edge of the sand.

3. Add water to the other side of the bin. Some water will probably seep into the sand and that’s fine.

4. Add the frog life cycle figurines to the bin.

Frog life cycle sensory bin with sand and stones.

Explore the Life Cycle of a Frog

Invite your child to play with the sensory bin. To begin, I pointed out the frog life cycle toys. He was excited about them and immediately started playing with them. As he was playing with them I talked to him about each stage of the frog life cycle. We even practiced putting them in order.

Sequence the life cycle of the frog in the sensory bin

Kids will have fun playing with the frog life cycle toys

We also talked about things like if the tadpole could go in the sand and whether the frog could swim in the water and could he stay in the water forever.

Kids of all ages will enjoy learning about the life cycle of a frog with this hands-on learning activity

Hands-on science activity for learning about the frog life cycle

Then I explained that they start their life in water and have gills and tails similar to fish. But as they grow, they change and lose their gills and tails and grow legs and lungs to help them breathe. They spend a lot of their adult life on land.

It's even fun to splash in the pond!

Evan really enjoyed playing in this pretend pond and so did my 18 month old.

If you would like to extend the learning, here are some great books about the life cycle of a frog.

From Tadpole to Frog by Wendy Pfeffer

Scholastic Reader Level 1: From Tadpole to Frog by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

A Frog’s Life (Watch It Grow) by Nancy Dickmann

More Activities for Explore Life Cycles with Kids from the #PLAYfulPreschool Education Team

Butterfly Life Cycle Activities for Kids

Butterfly Life Cycle Story Board by Growing Book by Book
Life Cycle of the Butterfly in Art by Powerful Mothering
Playdough Butterfly Life Cycle by Learning 2 Walk
Butterfly Life Cycle Craft Necklace by Fun-A-Day

Ladybug Life Cycle Activities for Kids

Ladybug Life Cycle Song by Capri +3
Ladybug Life Cycle Activities and Sensory Play by Natural Beach Living

Frog Life Cycle Activities for Kids

Life Cycle of a Frog Sensory Bin by Mom Inspired Life
Fine-Motor Frog Life Cycle Craft by Live Over C’s
Frog Life Cycle Hopscotch by Tiny Tots Adventures
Frog Life Cycle Craft by Still Playing School

Mealworms Life Cycle Activities for Kids

Studying Mealworms with Kids by Raising Lifelong Learners

Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activities for Kids

Sea Turtle Life Cycle – Ordering by Rainy Day Mum

Praying Mantis Life Cycle Activities for Kids

Raise a Praying Mantis | Activities for Kids to Explore Life Cycles by The Educators’ Spin On It