Increasing Positive Student Participation Are You a Hog, a Log, or a Frog? Morning Meeting Lesson

Do you have students who sit around like logs, rarely ever participating in class discussions or activities?

What about those students who act like hogs, blurting out answers, not letting their peers have a chance to speak up let alone think about the question you just asked?

If you answered, "YES!" to either of these questions, you will love this morning meeting idea!

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I got this lesson idea from my friend, Jessica from The Whimsical Teacher.  If you are not following her on Periscope, well, you should be!

The first thing you need to do is print out the different masks.  I laminated mine for extra durability because I attached them to our wall as a reminder after the activity.

 I have a pdf file with all three of the masks here.

Hog, Log, and Frog Masks

Next, you gather your students around for your normal morning meeting.  If you don't use a morning meeting in your classroom, you can just use this as a lesson during the day.  Show the students the log and ask them what they think of when they think of a log.  What might a person who acts like a log in the classroom be like?  The students will volunteer ideas such as:

"They just sit there."

"They don't do their work."

"They don't help out."

"They don't participate."

Then, show them the hog mask. Ask them to tell you what they think of when they think of a hog.  Again, ask them how this might relate to the classroom.  Students might say:

"They blurt."

"They answer all of the questions."

"They raise their hands like crazy all the time."

"They interrupt."

Last, show them the frog and ask them what frogs always turn into in fairy tales.  They should answer, "Princes."  You then say, "That's right, they always turn into princes and princesses, because they do the right thing. What might the right thing be in the classroom?"  Answers could include:

"Taking turns."

"Participating in lessons."

"Always doing their best."

End the lesson by asking students what they would like to be, a log, a hog or a frog?  The answer should be simple - they want to be frogs.

Throughout the year, when your students aren't making the best choices, you can remind them, "Didn't you say you wanted to be a frog?

My students LOVED this lesson, and it has been a great reminder for increasing positive student participation.


If you decide to do this project, I would love to see pictures!  Please email me at kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net or tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!

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Have a question? Idea for a resource you might find helpful?

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