Frog Life Cycle for Kids: From Egg to Tadpole to Frog (Grade 3 Science)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Ribbit! Did you know a frog does not start life looking like a frog at all? Today we will follow the frog life cycle and watch an amazing change happen, one stage at a time.

It starts with eggs. A female frog lays hundreds or even thousands of eggs in the water. Each tiny egg is wrapped in clear jelly that protects it. A big clump of frog eggs is called frogspawn.

After a few days to a few weeks, a tadpole hatches. It looks like a tiny fish. It has a long tail for swimming and breathes underwater using gills. It mostly eats algae and tiny water plants.

As the tadpole grows, its body begins to change. First, two back legs appear. Then two front legs pop out. Inside, lungs start to form so it can breathe air. This big change is called metamorphosis.

Now it is a froglet, a young frog that still has a short tail. The tail gets smaller and smaller as its body takes it in. The froglet starts to climb out of the water and breathe air.

Finally, it is an adult frog. It has strong back legs for jumping and a sticky tongue for catching insects. It can live on land and in water. When it is ready, a female lays eggs, and the cycle begins again.

Now it's your turn. A tadpole is just starting to grow legs. Which legs grow first, the front legs or the back legs? Pause and try. The back legs grow first. The front legs come later.

Great job! Frogs grow from eggs, to tadpoles with gills, to froglets with legs, to adult frogs that breathe air. Practice the frog life cycle in the Science Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!