Grades 4 - 6: The Frog Round

I recently found a really cool poem, and I wanted to share it. It's author is unknown (that's why it's signed 'Anon' - short for 'Anonymous').

Frog Round

What a queer bird the frog are:
When he sit he stand (almost);
When he walk he fly (almost);
When he talk he cry (almost);
He ain't got no sense (hardly);
He ain't got no tail, either (hardly);
He sit on what he ain't got (hardly).

- Anon

***
If you're in the Typing Practice group, answer the following questions in this post's comments section. When you're finished, you may either read and respond to other posts, or go to All the Right Type.

1. The author says when frogs walk they "fly (almost)". What does that mean?
2. What do you think the author means when he says that when frogs talk they "cry (almost)"?
3. The author uses brackets for the last word on almost every line. Why do you think he does that?
   
4. There are many different meanings for the word 'queer'. What does the author mean when he says that frogs are queer birds?
5. The Frog Round is definately a poem. But why? If you could define the word "poem", how would you define it? Is Frog Round a good poem? Why or why not? Use quotations or examples from the poem to back up your answer.
6. Write your own froggy poem. This page is FULL of examples of poem types.
   

***
If you're in the Free Time group, read and respond to at least one blog post. After you've finished that, you MUST use your computer period to complete unfinished work (speech arts, writing projects, weekly emails, animated GIFs, etc).

Finished?!

• Grade Six: Visit the EQAO Parent Resource Website and check out the Sample Individual Student Report (Junior Division). Read the information you find there, and send me a friendly email about what you've learned.
  
• Grade Five: See me.

***
If you're in the SMARTBoard group, try out these games: Word Frog, Leap Frog, Letter Chomp, Froggyville Game Central. Make sure that you share your time evenly among the members of your group...watch the clock!
***
If you're in the Marvelous Mystery group, come out into the Library to meet with Ms. Bromley for a few minutes. Then, grab yourself a set of headphones and watch this while trying the music activities below:

• For each part, get so that you can hear it continuously (hearing it as separate from the rest)
• For each phrase in the piece (a phrase can be any unit you choose, two measures long or less), learn to hear it in whichever part has it at the time (so that your attention is bouncing around)
• Learn to direct your attention to any of the four parts at will, so that you can change your attention whenever you choose
• Get so that you can focus your attention on any two parts at the same time (so that you hear those parts as separate from the rest)
• If you know how to recognize intervals, hear the progression of intervals between any two parts
• When you're following two parts, learn to shift your visual focus back and forth
• Tap with a finger (or, if you're following two parts, two fingers) on the notes as they happen
• Sing along with parts that are in your range
• Sing along with any part (moving it into your range as necessary)
• Tap the rhythm of one part while singing another part

Does seeing the music help you hear the parts better? Does tapping your foot or finger help you hear the parts better? Why or why not? Prove your answer by giving examples from the activities you just tried.
***



Art activities you can try on your own:

• Go here to print and build your own paper frog box!
• Online frog coloring page.
• Origami jumping frog instructions.

Online nature exhibits:

• Exploratorium: Frogs
• Nature Sound: Frogs and Toads in Color and Sound
• National Geographic: See-Through Frog Bred in Japan
• All About Frogs: Links (WOW! Amazing links)

Frog Round fan posts:

• Two girls attempt their own version of the Frog Round on Youtube.
• An unknown artist posts his or her version of Frog Round on YTMND.