Image of a tiny orange frog on a leaf
Danita Delimont Creative/Alamy Stock Photo (Frog); Nigel Voaden (Thumbnail)
Picture This,

Halloween Frog?

From the October/November 2024 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will get information from text and an image to learn about pumpkin toadlets.

Lexiles: 280L
Featured Skill: Key Details,
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.3 Decoding RI.1.1 Key details RI.1.3 Connecting information RI.1.4 Vocabulary RI.1.5 Text features RI.1.6 Distinguish between information from words and images RI.1.7 Use visuals SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative discussions with peers and adults
TEKS Standards
  • Science
    (13) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and undergo processes that help them interact and survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (A) identify the external structures of different animals and compare how those structures help different animals live, move, and meet basic needs for survival.

Magazine View
See Student View

This frog has a few interesting features:

  • bumpy orange skin
  • black eyes
  • thin legs
  • a teeny-tiny body

You may see a lot of pumpkins in the fall. But have you ever seen a pumpkin toadlet? This frog is as small as a bee. It has bumpy orange skin. It has black eyes. It even glows in the dark.  


It is smaller than a thumbnail.

Do you think that pumpkin toadlet is a good name for it?


video (1)
Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Activities (3) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

About the Article

English Language Arts Focus

Nonfiction Text Features: Photographs & Labels

Science Focus

Animal adaptations

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Whole group
  • Small group

Pairings and Text Connections

  • From the Storyworks 1 archive: “Picture This!: Fish Out of Water” (May/June 2024), “Picture This!: Do You Think I’m Creepy?” (October/November 2023), “Picture This!: Grandma Shark” (December 2022/January 2023) 
  • Suggested book: Just Discovered Amphibians by Danielle Denega

Suggested Reading Focus

Getting information from text and images/labels (20 minutes)

  • Begin by reminding children that we get information from pictures. Take a close look at the photo of the pumpkin toadlet. Ask children to share what they notice about it. 
  • Put your finger on a label, and have children do the same. Ask children what labels do. (Point to a part of the picture and tell us more about it.) Have children follow the arrows with their fingers. Then read the labels together.
  • Read the mini article aloud for more information about the pumpkin toadlet. Ask children whether they think pumpkin toadlet is a good name for the animal. Why?

  • Finally, discuss what children learned from both the picture and the words in the article. What can they recall? What was most interesting? 

After-Reading Skills Practice

Skills: Complete sentences; Labeling (15 minutes)

Text-to-Speech