Frog life cycle card game practice feels a lot more exciting when children get to play their way through the life cycle of a frog! This Frog Life Cycle War! Card Game is played like a traditional game of "War," but children use the stages of the frog life cycle in place of numbers. The stage that comes later in the life cycle wins the cards.

As they play, children work with egg, embryo, tadpole, tadpole with legs, froglet and frog again and again. Picture cards give strong visual support, and matching word cards help children connect life science vocabulary with each stage. The frog life cycle poster makes a handy reference when children are just beginning to learn the sequence.

With this frog life cycle sequencing game, you get

• Picture cards and word cards for 6 frog life cycle stages
• A frog life cycle poster for visual reference
• Simple War-style directions children learn quickly
• Game variation suggestions, including a matching game and Go Fish
• Color and black-and-white options

It is a great partner game for your science center!

What's Included

• 6 frog life cycle picture cards
• 6 frog life cycle word cards
• 1 frog life cycle poster
• Frog Life Cycle War! Card Game directions
• Preparation directions
• Additional game variation suggestions
• Color and black-and-white options

Why Teachers Love It

• Familiar game, new content: The War-style format is simple to learn, so children can focus on the science.
• Built-in sequencing practice: Every flip asks children to decide which stage comes later in the life cycle of a frog.
• Science vocabulary on repeat: Children see and say egg, embryo, tadpole, tadpole with legs, froglet and frog throughout the game.
• Visual support included: The picture cards and poster give children clear references as they learn the stages.
• More than one game: Use the same cards for War, sequencing practice, picture and word matching, a matching game or Go Fish.
• Print the version you need: Choose color or black and white.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Life cycle sequencing: Children compare two stages and decide which one comes later in the frog life cycle.
• Understanding animal life cycles: Repeated play helps children see that a frog grows and changes in an ordered process.
• Life science vocabulary: Picture and word cards reinforce egg, embryo, tadpole, tadpole with legs, froglet and frog.
• Picture-to-word connections: Separate picture cards and word cards help children connect each stage with its name.
• Sequencing language: Children use words such as first, next, before, after and later to explain who wins.
• Oral retelling: Children can use the cards and poster to retell how a frog changes as it grows.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

• Taking turns
• Listening to classmates
• Maintaining attention
• Following directions
• Communicating choices
• Building confidence during group participation

How to Use It

Step 1: Print 2-4 copies of the playing cards. Shuffle them and divide the cards evenly between two players.

Step 2: Players flip over their top cards at the same time and compare the frog life cycle stages shown. The player with the stage that comes later in the life cycle collects the cards. The included directions also explain what to do when players flip matching cards.

Step 3: Continue as time allows or until one player runs out of cards. After the game, have children put one set of cards in order and retell the life cycle of a frog.

Easy Differentiation

Children come to life science with different reading levels and background knowledge. These options help every child take part in the same frog life cycle game.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Keep the frog life cycle poster visible during play
• Begin with a smaller selection of clearly different stages
• Introduce the picture cards before adding the word cards
• Model several comparisons before children play with a partner

For On-Level Practice

• Play with the complete set of picture and word cards
• Name each stage aloud as cards are flipped
• Use words such as before, after and later during play
• Refer to the poster only to check thinking

For an Extra Challenge

• Play without the poster as a reference
• Ask children to explain why one stage comes before or after another
• Name the stage that comes right before or after each flipped card
• Put all 6 stages in order after the game and retell the life cycle

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Pair each spoken stage name with its picture card
• Use a short language frame such as "The ___ comes after the ___."
• Play Go Fish to practice asking for stage names
• Allow pointing or choosing between two cards as a response
• Reduce the number of cards handled at one time and give extra processing time

Perfect For

• Science centers
• Partner games
• Small groups
• Frog and pond themes
• Animal life cycle units
• Spring science
• Speech therapy sessions
• ELL and ESL support
• Early finishers
• Homeschool

Standards

This frog life cycle card game supports the 2022 Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and kindergarten and 1st grade standards in Common Core, the TEKS (Science 2021, ELAR adopted 2017) and the Virginia SOL (Science 2018, English 2024):

Common Core State Standards

• CCSS L.K.6: Use words learned through conversation and activities, such as embryo, tadpole and froglet.
• CCSS SL.K.1.a: Follow agreed-upon rules, such as listening to others and taking turns, during partner play.

Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines

• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.VI.B.2: Observe, describe and discuss the life cycles of organisms, such as a frog.

Texas TEKS

• TEKS Science 1.13.B: Describe basic life cycles of animals, explored here through the stages of a frog.
• TEKS ELAR K.3.C: Identify and use words that name sequences, such as first, next and last.
• TEKS ELAR K.1.D: Work with others by following agreed-upon rules, including taking turns.

Virginia SOL

• VA SOL Science K.7.b: Understand that plants and animals have life cycles.
• VA SOL English K.C.1.A.i: Listen actively and follow agreed-upon rules for participating, such as waiting for a turn.

Check out what other educators are saying:

★★★★★ Suzanne Marr (TPT Seller) wrote, “My students loved this resource and it was very helpful.”

★★★★★ Michelle D. wrote, “Love this activity, can’t wait to use it.”

Add the Frog Life Cycle War! Card Game to your cart and have a fun science partner center ready to go. Print the cards, shuffle and watch your learners put the frog life cycle in order with every flip!

Download Details

Please note: This is a digital download that will be available to you directly after purchase. Nothing will be mailed to you.

You will receive a link to the download in three places

• On the 'thank you' page after checkout
• In your email
• Login on the site here: https://lifeovercsstore.com/account