Teachers, save “Frog and Toad — The Garden” to assign it to your class.

Teacher Notes (not visible to students)

This activity uses an animated short based on Frog and Toad to build listening and comprehension skills for first graders. Students will practice retelling events, identifying characters and feelings, and explaining simple problems and solutions. Prepare a device for students to watch the video and ensure Seesaw tools (camera, video, voice, draw) are available. A brief whole-group preview of Frog and Toad names and the idea of a garden will help some students engage. For the open-ended Think About It response: a high-quality answer names a clear fact from the video (one thing learned) and asks a specific, related question (one question I still have). For the Show It prompt: a high-quality answer uses the chosen tool to show a clear idea from the story (for example, a drawing of the garden with labels or a short video explaining Frog and Toad’s problem and solution). Teachers should mark these open responses correct if the student demonstrates accurate recall or a reasonable thoughtful connection to the story, and incorrect if responses are off-topic or show no understanding of the video.