Five Little Speckled Frogs

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Published On:

Did you know that the nursery rhyme “Five Little Speckled Frogs” was originally written to teach subtraction skills? Each time a frog jumps in the water, you can subtract one number and find the number of frogs left on the log. To make your math even more fun, use our free printable craft to make froggy counting rings of your very own while learning simple frog facts along the way!

Five Little Speckled Frogs Illustration | The Good and the Beautiful

What Children Learn from “Five Little Speckled Frogs”

  • Practice subtraction one at a time through a simple rhyme
  • Strengthen counting skills in a hands-on way
  • Learn simple frog concepts, including water habitats and tadpoles
  • Connect, music, movement, and learning through play

“Five Little Speckled Frogs” Lyrics

  • Five little speckled frogs
    Sat on a speckled log,
    Eating some most delicious bugs.
    Yum, yum!

    One jumped into the pool,
    Where it was nice and cool.
    Now there are four green speckled frogs.
    Glub, glub.

    Four little speckled frogs
    Sat on a speckled log,
    Eating some most delicious bugs.

    One jumped into the pool,
    Where it was nice and cool.
    Now there are three green speckled frogs.

    Three little speckled frogs
    Sat on a speckled log,
    Eating some most delicious bugs.
    Yum, yum, yum, yum!

  • One jumped into the pool,
    Where it was nice and cool.
    Now there are two green speckled frogs.
    Glub, glub.

    Two little speckled frogs
    Sat on a speckled log,
    Eating some most delicious bugs.
    Yum, yum!

    One jumped into the pool,
    Where it was nice and cool.
    Now there is one green speckled frog.
    Glub, glub.

    One little speckled frog
    Sat on a speckled log,
    Eating some most delicious bugs.
    Yum, yum, yum, yum!

    It jumped into the pool,
    Where it was nice and cool.
    Now there are no green speckled frogs.
    Glub, glub.

  • Click the image or the button to download beautiful PDFs of the “Five Little Speckled Frogs” lyrics and a fun counting activity!

    Two pages of frog activity and song sheets | The Good and the Beautiful

    Click Here for FREE Download

Have fun singing along with the "Five Little Speckled Frogs" as they jump into the cool pool in this adorable illustrated video on our Kids YouTube channel.

Fantastic Frogs

Frogs are fantastic creatures! From the tiny bumps on their skin to their comically bulging eyes, every incredible part of frogs testifies to the creativity and ingenuity of their Creator. 

Here are a of couple fun facts about our helpful hopping friends:

  • Most frogs have slimy, bumpy skin that is coated in a sticky mucus. This mucus possesses remarkable antibacterial and healing properties, which scientists are working to better understand and utilize. Maybe someday you will be spreading a froggy cream on your skin!
  • Did you know that frogs have three eyelids? Their third eyelid, called the nictitating membrane, acts like goggles, allowing frogs to see underwater. And water is one thing frogs certainly can’t live without. Read on to find out why!
Frog in pond of water | The Good and the Beautiful

Fun Fact: Frogs have three eyelids. The third set acts like a pair of goggles!

Three Reasons Frogs Need Water:

1. Water helps them cool down.

Frogs are cold-blooded, which means that they cannot regulate their own body temperatures. The temperature of their environment determines the temperature of their bodies. That is why the frogs in the song jump into the pond—they want to cool down! Bodies of water are often cooler than sun-parched land. Ponds and lakes offer great opportunities for shade, with plenty of rocks and plants to sit under.

Frog in pond of water | The Good and the Beautiful

Fun Fact: Frogs also drink through their skin, using a “drinking patch” located on their bellies.

2. They need water to breathe!

Did you know that frogs breathe through their skin? They have permeable skin, which means that gasses and liquids can pass through it. Frogs are able to breathe both on land and in the water, but it is very important that they keep their skin moist. If their skin dries out, they can’t absorb oxygen. Taking a quick dip in a pond will do the trick!

  • An image of frog eggs sitting above water | The Good and the Beautiful

  • 3. Frog eggs need moisture.

    Every frog starts out as a small, jelly-like egg that needs to be kept moist. Because of this, most frog eggs are laid in bodies of water. Eggs are laid by the hundreds, and the large mounds of eggs are often referred to as “frog spawn.” When the eggs hatch, tiny tadpoles emerge, equipped with gills that must be used in the water. Tadpoles are also born with teeny tails, which they use to swim around!

Fun Fact: Tadpoles hatch from eggs, have fins, and swim like fish.

Tadpoles | The Good and the Beautiful

  • Stay Cool!

    What are some of your favorite ways to cool down during the summer? Do you like jumping into shady ponds, just like a frog? Or would you prefer drinking ice-cold lemonade under the shade of a wide umbrella?

    Here are some fun summer activities to keep you cool as a cucumber during the hot summer months: 

    • Make homemade popsicles or ice cream.
    • Construct a DIY soapy slip ‘n’ slide.
    • Have a water balloon fight.
    • Go tubing down a river.
    • Splash in your backyard sprinklers.
    • Swim in a local pool.
    • Swing or hammock under shady trees.

    Whatever activity you decide to do, remember to take time to appreciate God’s beautiful creations all around you!

  • A girl sitting in a hammock outside in the shade | The Good and the Beautiful

Want to learn more about frogs?

Check out these gorgeous, fact-filled books!
  • The cover of the book "Facts About Frogs & Snakes" by Sue Stuever | The Good and the Beautiful
  • Curious Reptiles and Amphibians by Nyree Bevan book cover | The Good and the Beautiful
  • Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish science activity book cover for grades K-2 | The Good and the Beautiful
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Five Little Speckled Frogs: Questions & Answers

What is “Five Little Speckled Frogs”?

“Five Little Speckled Frogs” is a nursery rhyme designed to teach subtraction by counting down as each frog jumps into the water.

How does “Five Little Speckled Frogs” teach subtraction? 

Each time a frog jumps off the log, one is taken away from the group, helping children practice subtracting one at a time.

Why do frogs need water?

Frogs need water to survive because they lay their eggs in water, and their young (tadpoles) live there before growing into frogs. They also need water to breathe and keep their bodies cool.

What is the Five Little Specked Frogs activity?

The activity uses a printable frog craft to create counting rings, helps children act out the rhyme while practicing subtraction.

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