18. Growing up | English | Class 4

Mr Thomas Frog:

Paraphrase: There was a young tadpole named Tommy who lived with his mother. One day the young Tommy saw that he had lost his tail. He started crying sitting on a log of wood. His mother did not recognize him as he was no longer a young tadpole but now was a grown up Mr. Thomas Frog. The poet’s name is C. J. Dennis.

The Butterfly:

Paraphrase: Once there was a caterpillar with soft fine hairs laying curled on a leaf. The caterpillar spun a hard covering around herself and then went asleep. When she slept she dreamed that she she could fly. And when she wokeup she found she had turned into a butterfly.

Meanings:

1. fuzzy : covered with soft, fine hair that sticks up.
2. chrysalis : a stage in the life cycle of a butterfly. It is also the name of the hard case in which the caterpillar lies till it is transformed into a butterfly.
3. tadpole : a stage in the life of a frog or toad. At first, a tadpole has a long tail but not arms or legs.

Question and Answers:

1. Find more information about the life cycle of a frog and a butterfly.
   Present the information with the help of pictures, photos or diagrams.

Answer: activity question

1. From the poem ‘Mr Thomas Frog’, mention –
   • one fact : A tadpole is a young frog and has a tail.
   • one imaginary thing: a tadpole named Tommy crying for his lost tail

****************************