Froggy's Best Christmas by Jonathan London - Teaching Ideas



Froggy's friend Max really understands what Christmas is all about, giving and being with
family and friends. Since Froggy usually sleeps through winter he misses Christmas, but not this year. This year Max woke Froggy up to give him his Christmas present, a real Christmas tree. Together, along with their two other friends Matthew and Travis, they set out in search of the perfect tree. Once they find it and bring it home they decorate it with pine cones and popcorn strings. Froggy also makes Christmas presents for his mom and dad. Together they sing carols, eat roasted chestnuts and have a snowball fight. When it is time for his friends to leave, Froggy yells, "this is my best Christmas ever!" and it is all thanks to Max!

Here are some reading skills and strategies you can use to make this Froggy book more than just a holiday read aloud. I have also created a free Compare & Contrast freebie to use if you don't want to create your own.

Reading level: 2.2
Theme: Giving, friendship
Genre: Christmas

Suggested vocabulary words & phrases: trudged, scampered, spirit of giving that counts, foil, sugarplums, chestnuts

Reading skills and strategies:
  • Asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder what the book is going to be about. I wonder why it is Froggy’s best Christmas. {possible questions during} Why would it be Froggy’s first Christmas? {possible questions after} I wonder if Froggy will be able to go back to sleep after celebrating Christmas. I wonder if Froggy will wake up every year for Christmas. **Remember to have your students answer/reflect (on) their questions.
  • Author’s point of view – Third person point of view. Be sure to find 3 pieces of evidence to support this.
  • Author’s purpose – entertaining {evidence} animals don’t talk or wear clothes. The illustrations are kind of silly Frogs don’t roast chestnuts. All these things make for a very entertaining story.
  • Beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Max woke Froggy up for Christmas. {most important event from middle} Froggy, Max, and their friends got the perfect Christmas tree to decorate. {most important event from end} Froggy’s family and friends celebrated Christmas together.
  • Cause and effect – Why did Froggy wake up? Because Max was throwing snowballs at his window. Why did Froggy give Max his special soccer ball? Because he wanted to give it to him as a Christmas present. Why did Max give Froggy a picture of a Christmas tree? Because he wanted to give Froggy a real Christmas tree for Christmas. Why did Max and Froggy wake up Mathew and Travis? Because they wanted their friends to be with them to pick out the Christmas tree. Why was the tree Froggy picked out not good enough? Because it was too skinny. Why did they not cut down the tree that Matthew picked out? Because it was too fat. Why did Max cut down the tree he picked out? Because it was perfect. Why did Froggy’s mom and dad come out? Because Froggy was trying to put the star on the top of the tree and he and the tree fell over making a loud noise. Why did Froggy’s face turn red? Because he was embarrassed. Why did Froggy say that this was his best Christmas ever? Because it was the first Christmas he ever had and he spent it with friends and family.
  • character analysis - describe Froggy, describe Max {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
  • compare & contrast – Your Christmas with Froggy’s Christmas
  • Connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Picking a Christmas tree. Decorating the tree. Celebrating with friends and family. Having a silver star on the top of your tree.
  • Drawing conclusions & inferencing – Why do you think Max woke Froggy up in the middle of winter? {text clues} Max wanted to give Froggy a Christmas present. Froggy said that this was his first Christmas. {what I know} Giving presents always makes me happy. {my conclusion}Froggy had never experienced a Christmas before so Max wanted to give Froggy the gift of Christmas, spending time with friends and family.
  • Main idea & details - {main idea} Max wakes Froggy up to experience his first Christmas. {details} Max, Froggy, Matthew and Travis go in search of a Christmas tree. They decorate the Christmas tree. Froggy makes Christmas presents for his mom and dad. Everyone sing carols, opens presents, and has a snowball fight.
  • Predict – What do you think the story is going to be about? Why do you think it is Froggy’s best Christmas? What do you think Max is going to give Froggy as a gift? What do you think Froggy is going to give Max as a Christmas present? What do you think they will decorate the tree with? Do you think Max will wake Froggy up every Christmas?
  • Problem & solution - {problem} Froggy has never experienced a Christmas. {solution} Max wakes Froggy up so he can celebrate Christmas.
  • Sequencing – Froggy is dreaming about snow. Max wakes up Froggy. Froggy, Max, Travis and Matthew go find a Christmas tree. Max cuts the perfect tree down. They decorate the tree with pine cones and popcorn strings. Froggy makes presents for his mom and dad. Froggy tries to put a silver star on the tree and knocks him and the tree over. Froggy’s mom and dad wake up. Froggy’s mom and dad opens their Christmas presents. They roast chestnuts and sing carols. Froggy and his friends have a snowball fight. Everyone goes home and Froggy is happy about his best Christmas ever.
  • Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
  • Summarize - {someone} Max {wanted} wanted to give a Christmas tree to Froggy {but} but Froggy was sleeping for the winter {so} so Max went and woke him up. They went out and found the perfect Christmas tree to bring home and decorate and {then} then Froggy {finally} finally got to celebrate Christmas.
  • Theme – It is better to give than receive.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Froggys-Best-Christmas-Compare-Contrast

IT'S FREE!!

This freebie is part of the Holiday Picture Book Freebie Linky Party put on by First Grade and Fabulous. Click on over to find more goodies!

 Happy reading!


4 comments

  1. Oh...I love Froggy!! He is one of my favorites! I didn't know he had a Christmas book? I will have to get it! Thanks for sharing, like always!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Kelley, for stopping by. I have to agree, Froggy is one of the best. Have a great break!
      Shawna

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  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. thanks for linking up!! I LOVE Froggy! :)

    ღDeAnne
    First Grade and Fabulous

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Thoughts and comments are always welcome!