Crafting with a purpose is the best way to ensure information sticks. This project is pulled from our popular eBook, A to Z Alphabet Animal Crafts for Kids, and it focuses on several key developmental areas:
- Fine Motor Skills: Precision cutting and gluing small pieces like eyes and tongues.
- Visual Perception: Recognizing how different shapes (circles, ovals, and triangles) come together to form an animal.
- Environmental Science: A perfect companion for lessons on the lifecycle of a frog or the differences between amphibians and reptiles.
The Ultimate Upcycling Project: Using an Old CD
One of the unique features of this craft is that it uses a recycled CD as the base. In 2026, we are all looking for ways to reduce waste. Instead of throwing away those old, scratched discs, they make the perfect sturdy, shiny belly for our green friend.
Supplies You’ll Need
- The Printable Template: (Available below)
- Green Materials: We recommend dark and light green felt (2mm stiff felt works best), but you can easily substitute this with construction paper or craft foam sheets.
- Red Material: For that iconic long frog tongue.
- An Old CD: The “skeleton” of your craft.
- Adhesive: A glue gun (with adult supervision) for felt, or a glue stick if you are using paper.
- Googly Eyes: To give your frog some personality!
- Scissors: Kid-safe ones if they are doing the cutting.
Step-by-Step Instructions: F is for Frog
1. Prepare Your Templates
Download and print the frog template. If you are a teacher, you can print these in bulk for your class. Cut out the individual pieces: the head, legs, and the signature long tongue.
2. Trace and Cut
Place your paper templates onto your chosen material (Felt, Foam, or Paper).
- Pro-Tip: If using felt, use a chalk marker to trace the shapes; it shows up clearly on dark green and rubs right off once you’re done.
- Cut out two sets of legs, the head, and the red tongue.
3. Assemble the Body
Apply glue to the back of your CD and press it onto your large piece of green material. Once dry, trim the edges so you have a perfectly circular green body.
4. Adding the Features
- The Head: Glue the head to the top of the CD.
- The Legs: Position the legs at the bottom and sides to give the impression that the frog is ready to “leap” off the table.
- The Face: This is where the magic happens! Stick on your googly eyes. For the tongue, you can roll the red felt or paper around a pencil for a few seconds to give it a realistic “curl” before gluing it inside the mouth.
Frog vs. Toad: A Mini Lesson for Kids
While the kids are busy gluing, use this as a “teachable moment.” Did you know all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads?
| Feature | Frog | Toad |
| Skin | Smooth and slimy | Warty and dry |
| Legs | Long, powerful jumping legs | Shorter legs for walking |
| Habitat | Lives near water | Can live further from water |
| Eggs | Laid in clumps | Laid in long chains |
Expert Tips for Teachers and Parents
To make this content truly “helpful” in the eyes of search engines and to ensure it provides Information Gain, consider these variations:
- The Puppet Version: Tape a large craft stick or a tongue depressor to the back of the CD. Now, your student has a puppet they can use during storytime or while singing “Five Little Speckled Frogs.”
- The Rainforest Theme: If you are teaching about the Amazon, use bright red or blue felt instead of green to create a “Poison Dart Frog.” It’s a great way to talk about animal defenses and warning colors in nature.
- Classroom Decor: String several of these together to create a “Leaping Letters” border across your chalkboard or bulletin board.
Safety and Supervision Guidelines
As always, safety is our priority.
- Glue Guns: If using a hot glue gun to secure felt to the CD, this must be handled by an adult. For a kid-friendly version, use “Tacky Glue” or strong double-sided tape.
- CD Edges: Ensure the CD isn’t cracked or sharp. Covering the edges with felt or tape is a good safety measure.
- Small Parts: Googly eyes can be a choking hazard for children under 3. For younger siblings, consider drawing the eyes on with a permanent marker instead.
Final Thoughts on the Letter F
Crafting the letter F is a milestone in our alphabet journey. It’s a letter filled with fun words: Friend, Family, Forest, and Frog. By the time your child finishes this project, they won’t just have a cute decoration; they’ll have a tangible memory of the letter F and a new appreciation for the amphibians that keep our ecosystems healthy.
Would you like me to prepare a list of “Frog-Themed Book Recommendations” that you can include at the end of this blog post for your readers?
SEO & AdSense Checklist for this Post:
- Keyword Density: Natural inclusion of “frog craft,” “printable template,” and “letter F activities.”
- Readability: High scannability with headers, tables, and bullet points.
- Engagement: Interactive suggestions like the “Puppet Version” to keep users on the page.
- Originality: Unique “upcycling” angle with the CD base to avoid looking like generic scraped content.
