Submitted by Stephanie Loupan
Idea posted August 23, 2001
This game helps reinforce multiplication skills as well as coordination and concentration. It may be confusing at first, but it's worth taking the time to learn. Start slowly with the entire group learning all the words before trying to "break it apart."
The Frog Game:
- Students sit in a circle. Keep the beat with a "pat, clap" two beat pattern. Beat one is always the "pat."
- The spoken phrases are all two beats and will be spoken in rhythm to the hand pattern. Remember that beat one is always the pat. To learn the words, begin with everyone saying this series of phrases together:
One frog, (pat, clap) Of course, don't say the pat, clap, just do it.
Two eyes, (pat, clap)
Four legs, (pat, clap)
Ker-plunk, (pat, clap)
In the pond. (pat, clap)(spoken as a dotted eighth and a 16th and quarter note)
Two frogs, (pat, clap)
Four eyes, (pat, clap)
Eight legs, (pat, clap)
Ker-plunk, (pat, clap)
Ker-plunk, (pat, clap)
In the pond, (pat, clap)
In the pond. (pat, clap)
Three frogs, (pat, clap)
Six eyes, (pat, clap)
Twelve legs, (pat, clap)
Ker-plunk, (pat, clap)
Ker-plunk, (pat, clap)
Ker-plunk, (pat, clap)
In the pond. (pat, clap)
In the pond. (pat, clap)
In the pond. (pat, clap)... And so on...
NOW THE FUN BEGINS...
Instead of the whole class saying all of the phrases, it will now go around the circle. EVERYONE CONTINUES DOING THE HAND PATTERN while each student gets to say ONE phrase:
Student 1: One frog, (pat, clap)
Student 2: Two eyes, (pat, clap)
Student 3: Four legs, (pat, clap)
Student 4: Ker-plunk, (pat, clap)
Student 5: In the pond. (pat, clap)
Student 6: Two frogs, (pat, clap)
Student 7: Four eyes, (pat, clap)
Student 8: Eight legs, (pat, clap)
Student 9: Ker-plunk, (pat, clap)
Student 10: Ker-plunk, (pat, clap)
Student 11: In the pond, (pat, clap)
Student 12: In the pond. (pat, clap)... etc.
***EACH TIME AN ERROR IS MADE, THE GAME STARTS OVER AGAIN AT ONE FROG.
A bingo chip is placed in front of any student who makes an error. Three or five chips and you're out. This way they get to practice. I've never had a group get past four frogs!
AN ERROR would be skipping a beat between phrases, starting the phrase on beat two (the clap) instead of beat one, stopping the hand pattern and of course, the most common mistake is saying the wrong phrase.
This is my students' all time favorite game. I save it for just before vacations.