TADPOLE TALES: The Tadpole Days

Tadpole Tales: Week 1

Tadpole Tales: Week 2

Tadpole Tales: Week 3

Tadpole Tales: Week 4

Tadpole Tales: Week 5
Tadpole Tales: Week 6 

Welcome back to Tadpole Tales!

BIG NEWS! Leg-a-less has outgrown his name. I think we should rename him...Leg-a-LOTS! 

This week, Leg-a-LOTS grew front legs! His back legs have formed a joint in the middle (like a knee) so he is able to bend it push off when he swims. He continues to enjoy hiding behind the rock in the tank. The rock, that sits above the surface of the water, will give Leg-a-LOTS a place to rest outside the water once he's primarily using his lungs to breathe. 

TADPOLE TIDBITS:

• Back legs have formed a joint in the middle (like a knee) 
• Front legs have formed 
• Very active, using new legs to push off the bottom of the tank and around rocks in the tank
• Rising to surface every 1-3 minutes to take a breath
• Eating meal worms and small pieces of lettuce
• Tail continues to shrink

TADPOLE TALES: The Tadpole Days

Tadpole Tales: Week 1

Tadpole Tales: Week 2

Tadpole Tales: Week 3

Tadpole Tales: Week 4

Welcome back to Tadpole Tales! 

Leg-a-less continues his metamorphosis into a frog. This week, his body has changed shape again. His tail continues to grow more solid and shorter. His mouth is fully formed and fully functional. He devours the dried meal worms and small pieces of lettuce we feed him daily. But his biggest growth this week has been in his legs. We noticed just yesterday that a small, webbed foot has formed on the end of his leg! 

TADPOLE TIDBITS:

• Small, webbed feet are beginning to develop
• Body continues to change shape 
• Tail is continuing to shorten
• Rising to surface every 1-5 minutes to take a breath
• Eating meal worms and small pieces of lettuce
• A distinct mouth is formed 

TADPOLE TALES: The Tadpole Days

Tadpole Tales: Week 1

Tadpole Tales: Week 2

Tadpole Tales: Week 3

Welcome back to Tadpole Tales! 

Leg-a-less continues his metamorphosis into a frog. This week, his body color has become a deeper hue of green. His once translucent tail is now forming into a more solid part of his body. We're noticing he is coming to the surface to take breaths about every 10-15 minutes now. He's also started to enjoy eating some dried meal worms and small pieces of lettuce.

TADPOLE TIDBITS:

• Body is becoming a darker hue of green
• Back legs are becoming longer and more pronounced
• Front of body is looking more frog-like in shape
• Tail is becoming more solid
• Rising to surface every 10-15 minutes to take a breath
• Eating meal worms and small pieces of lettuce

TADPOLE TALES: The Tadpole Days

Tadpole Tales: Week 1

Tadpole Tales: Week 2

Welcome back to Tadpole Tales! 

Leg-a-less has been busy growing and shrinking. Wait a minute! How can that be? It's true. His tail is shrinking, but he is growing into a more frog-like body. We're noticing his metamorphosis seems to be using up the bulk of his energy. He's spending a lot more time hanging out at the bottom of the tank rather than swimming all around. And he continues to swim to the top every half hour to take a breath. 

TADPOLE TIDBITS:

• Body is more elongated 
• Back legs are becoming longer and more pronounced
• Gills are shrinking
• Tail is becoming shorter

TADPOLE TALES: The Tadpole Days

Last week's post on 'Tadpole Tales'

Welcome back to Tadpole Tales! 

First things first. We had some really creative entries in order to help us name our Tadpole. Our favorite was inspired by the Lord of the Ring series from our friend, Elizabeth. Without further ado, his name will be... (drumroll, please) 

Leg-a-less 

In the past week, we've seen some exciting changes in Leg-a-less. He's been very busy. 

Compare these pictures below! The first one is from last week. The second one is from this week.

Tadpole Tidbits: 

• Back legs are forming.
• Tail is becoming shorter.
• Color is turning darker.
• The tadpoles are beginning to visit the surface to breathe in oxygen from the air. 

Check it out!

TADPOLE TALES: The Tadpole Days

Welcome to Tadpole Tales! 

Every Spring at the Night Light Stories Household, we have a pond full of budding tadpole eggs. We usually collect a few of them each year so that we can watch them grow into frogs. This year, we wanted to share that experience with YOU!  

For the next twelve weeks, follow along with us as we watch this tadpole's transformation.

WAIT! 

One more thing before you go. This tadpole needs a name. Leave your classroom's, child's, student's, grandmother's or your own suggestion for a name in the comments below. We'll randomly choose one and announce in our next installment of Tadpole Tales. 

For now, we'll leave you with the first picture of our new little friend, along with some facts about his development. 

TADPOLE TIDBITS: 

• Hatch from eggs.
• Have no legs.
• Swim with a tail.
• Live in the water.
• Breathe with gills.
• Feed on the egg yolk they still have in their gut.

LIGHTING THE WAY WITH WORDS

The Watermelon Seed: (10:18)

A little boy and his grandmother exchange letters 
describing the different changes he is seeing in his 
mom after she swallows a watermelon seed.

Free audio download: The Watermelon Seed

Blog with activities: The Watermelon Seed

Summer time is in full swing here in the Night Light Stories household. We have been hiking, swimming, and catching tadpoles in our pond. We observed our tadpoles everyday and watched their arms and legs develop. Recently, their tails have shrunk officially turning them into frogs. Now they don't need to be underwater constantly like when they were tadpoles, but they do like to try out their new legs by jumping from the rocks and branches we have put in the aquarium, as well as jumping in the water for a refreshing swim. 

Have you been swimming this summer? We'd love to see your pictures! Send them to us at nightlightstories@gmail.com or post them on our Facebook Page. As always, we look forward to the many summer activities and words we can share together!