Sign Up
School Account Sign Up
Lesson ID: 12110
Hop through the four stages of a frog’s life—from squiggly tadpole to leaping frog—with fun facts, games, and creative projects!
What Happens When a Frog Grows Up?
Imagine if you were born looking like a little bean with a wiggly tail. That would be pretty silly, right?
But that’s exactly how frogs start their lives!
Baby frogs don’t look like frogs at all. They live in the water, have no legs, and breathe through gills like fish.
Hop through the stages of a frog’s life and find out!
Stage 1: Frog Eggs
The life of a frog begins in the water. A mother frog lays jelly-like eggs in big groups, called frog spawn.
These eggs float near plants or land in calm water to stay safe. A frog might lay hundreds or even thousands of eggs!
Inside each egg, something tiny starts to grow. After a few days, the eggs hatch—and out swim little wiggly tadpoles!
Stage 2: Tadpole
A tadpole is a baby frog that doesn’t have legs yet. It looks more like a little fish!
At first, the tadpole sticks to plants and floats around until it gets stronger. Then it starts swimming with its tail and eating tiny plants in the water called algae.
This stage can last a few weeks while the tadpole grows.
Stage 3: Tadpole with Legs
Next, the tadpole starts growing its back legs. It still has a long tail and swims around, but now it can hop a little, too!
After a few more weeks, the tadpole grows front legs, and its tail begins to shrink. This stage is called a froglet.
The froglet starts looking more like a frog every day and gets ready to live on land.
Stage 4: Adult Frog
At last, the tail disappears, and the froglet becomes an adult frog! Now, it can hop, swim, and catch bugs with its long tongue.
Adult frogs live near water, and when they’re ready, they lay new eggs—and the life cycle begins again!
Review the Cycle
Frogs go through four main stages in their life cycle.
Egg
Tadpole
Froglet
Adult Frog
That’s a lot of change for a little amphibian!
Jump into the Got It? section!
Supplies
FAVORITE
Like