Toad Tries Hard to Think of a Story
Vocabulary Exploration· 5 min
- quite 20: “Frog, you are looking quite green.”
- rest 20: “Get into my bed and rest.”
- porch 22: “T will go out on the front porch and walk up and down,”
- terrible 27: “because now I feel terrible.”
- Show the word card and picture of Frog in bed together
- Students chorus each word twice, then use it in a sentence about helping a friend
- Act out 'rest' and 'terrible' with body language
- quite
- Frog is quite green
- I feel quite tired
Fast finishers: find the word on their page. Quiet kids: chorus with a partner.
Tap the book cover three times — Reading Time.
Don't skip the picture card — it's the entry point for non-readers.
Reading in Class· 10 min
- Picture-walk pages 20-29: notice Toad's different ideas on each page
- Read aloud once at storytelling pace, pausing at each illustration to let students predict what Toad will try next
- Read again with students chorusing the repeated question pattern each time Frog asks why
- Why are you standing on your head? 24: “Why are you standing on your head?”
- Why are you pouring water over your head? 25: “Why are you pouring water over your head?”
- Why are you banging your head against the wall? 27: “Why are you banging your head against the wall?”
- He's walking
- He's standing on his head
- He's pouring water
Struggling readers: point to the refrain line as the group choruses. Fast finishers: predict Toad's next idea before turning the page.
Close the book and tap your head — Questions Time.
Don't rush past the illustrations — they carry the cumulative humor that makes the repetition land.
Questions Time· 7 min
- What things did Toad try to help him think of a story? 28: “He walked up and down on the porch, but he could not think of a story. He stood on his head, but he could not think of a story. He poured water over his head, but he could not think of a story. He banged his head against the wall, but he could not think of a story.”
- Why did Toad end up in bed at the end? 27: “because now I feel terrible.”
Draw Toad trying one more thing to think of a story.
22: “But he could not think of a story to tell Frog.”
What students produce: A picture showing Toad doing something silly with a speech bubble saying what he hopes will happen
- He walked on the porch
- He stood on his head and poured water and banged his head
- Because he tried too hard and got tired
Quiet kids: turn-and-talk with a partner before sharing. Fast finishers: add labels to their drawing.
Hold up your drawing — Conclusion Time.
Don't accept 'he tried things' — press for the specific actions on the page.
Conclusion· 3 min
Take-home: Tell someone what Toad did to help Frog feel better.
- he wanted to help Frog
- Frog was sick
- he's a good friend
Quiet kids: whisper their answer to you before whole-group share. Fast finishers: add one more sentence about friendship.
Don't let the recap become a retelling — anchor it to the evidence of Toad's effort.