| TITLE |
GRADE |
DESCRIPTION |
|
Amphibian Alert! |
2-5 |
A downloadable curriculum from
the Sedgwick County Zoo which
targets grades 2-5 to teach children about amphibians and why
amphibian declines are important. Incorporated in the document
is text to accompany a slideshow, also available for download.
Note: When this curriculum was developed, we thought
there were about 4000 amphibian species, as stated in
the text. But new species have since been discovered and
there approximately 6000 species of amphibians today.
|
|
It’s Not Easy Being Green |
upper elementary-lower middle school |
This is an up-to-date complete curriculum. Chapters, with lesson
plans and activities, are on a variety of topics, including
declines, deformities, culture, anatomy, habitat and more.
Although created for by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, the materials can be adapted
to any state.
|
|
Hoptoad Habitats |
3-5 |
Designed by the Three Rivers Habitat Partnership and ASSET,
Inc., Hoptoad Habitats provides eight inquiry based
lessons/activities related to amphibians and vernal pools. The
activities, including the Puddle Jumpers Field Journal, can be
easily adapted for various regions and other types of habitats.
|
|
Slithering
Around Your School Grounds with Reptiles and Amphibians |
2-5 |
This packet contains seven activities, ranging from studies on
breeding seasons and habitats, to how amphibians respond to
disturbance. Developed by Terry Tomasek and Catherine Matthews
at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
|
|
A Thousand Friends of Frogs |
K-12 |
Written by the Center for Global Environmental Education originally in response to the students in Minnesota
discovering malformed frogs in 1995, the updated Educator’s
Activity Guide can be purchased for $10. There are several
lesson plans available on the website for free, including The
Case for the Missing Anurans that use characters
Sheerluck Biomes
and Dr. Newt Watson to investigate the causes of declines.
|
|
Something Froggy Wired at School |
Two versions:
K-3, 4-8 |
A web-based interactive story developed by Hazel
Jobe, Karen Walkowiak and Robert Owens, with associated
links and activities for students. |
|
Reviled and
Revered |
3-8 |
A series of five activities from the Smithsonian that cover topics
such as people’s attitudes and misconceptions about herps, what
are the differences between amphibians and reptiles and how are
amphibians and reptiles like or not like people. |
|
Facts and Folklore |
6-8 |
From Discovery, some lesson activities are provided and teachers
can purchase a video that will
discover
some of the amazing ways frogs survive and breed in the wild,
explore their historical importance, and learn why they’re so
valuable to the environment. |
|
Ribbit! Ribbit! |
K-2 |
Designed by Christine Gorman,
this thematic unit is great for ESL students. Can be adapted for
grades 3-5. |
|
Leaping into Subtraction |
1 |
Developed by Sharon Heller at
Guilford Public Schools, this unit uses frogs as the theme to
teach subtraction. |
|
Virtual Frog Dissection |
7 |
Developed by Danielle D. Ulerich
at the University of Pittsburgh, this lesson introduces students
to frog anatomy. |
|
Frogs: A Thematic Unit Plan |
2 |
Lesson developed
by
Lisa Turturice which
includes
activities to
incorporate frogs into different subjects such as art, physical
education, literature, math and others. |
|
Survival of the Mutant Toad |
3-6 |
Retha M. Edens at Saint Louis
University, this lesson and activity about amphibian camouflage
involves graphing and vocabulary. |
|
The Frog Beyond the Fairy Tale Character: Searching
Informational Texts |
K-2 |
Students examine their prior
knowledge, make predictions about frogs, and verify their
predictions through research on the Internet.
Developed by Janet Beyersdorfer. |
|
Alarming Frogs: The Life and Work of Emerging
Explorer Tyrone Hayes
|
9-12 |
This
National Geographic activity explores the career of Dr. Tyrone
Hayes and his work on amphibians and pesticides, and how
studying frogs may help people. |
|
Disappearing frogs and the environment |
9-12 |
This CNN lesson
plan discusses
frogs as
indicator species, how humans are a part of the ecosystem and
the effects they are having on it. |
|
Frog and Toad are Friends |
K-3 |
From Linda
Scott, these activities engage students in differences between
frogs and toads using the Frog and Toad are Friends book by
Arnold Lobel. |
| Postcard Exchange |
K-12 |
Create a postcard exchange with
other participating schools. Share information about the frogs
in your area and learn about species in other areas. Please
contact us if you are interested in participating in this
activity and we'll work to pair you up. |
| TITLE |
GRADE |
DESCRIPTION |
| Build a Frog Pond |
K-12 |
Building a pond is a lot of work,
but incredibly educational. Students will learn about wetland
communities, ecosystem balance, and will create habitat for
frogs. Here are some
guidelines
for you to consider.
Tree Walkers International may also be able to provide
guidance. Contact
Brent Brock for more information. |
| Schoolyard Tree Frog
Monitoring (best for Southeastern U.S.) |
K-12 |
A very simple and exciting way
to give kids experience with frogs and the science used to
sample them - all performed right on your school grounds! The
United States Geological Survey provides detailed field and
data collection methodology and the
National Science Teachers Association provides suggested
classroom activities. Interested in sharing and comparing your
data with other participating schools?
Let us know and we'll be sure to
connect you! Note: NSTA
also has other materials and activities on amphibians available.
Please visit their website for Science Sampler: Learning from
amphibians, Incorporating Amphibian Malformation into
Inquiry-based Learning, Hands-on Herpetology: Exploring Ecology
and Conservation, and others.
http://www.nsta.org |
| Monitor Amphibians
with Students |
2-5 |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro provides 4 easy
ways for student to ‘capture’ and monitor amphibians (and
reptiles) around their school. A variety of activities can be
developed around these activities. |
| Raise Native Tadpoles |
K-12 |
Although raising tadpoles will
be exciting and educational for students, it isn't as easy as it
sounds. We have provided some
guidelines and a care sheet. |
| Raise Poison Frogs |
K-12 |
Colorful and charismatic poison
frogs are commonly bred in captivity. Breeders and hobbyists may
be willing to provide frogs, tadpoles, or eggs. They will
require a tropical microcosm and absolutely cannot be released.
They are not native to the United States and will not survive if
released. If you are interested in trying this option,
contact us and we will reach out to breeders for you. |
| Learn about Vernal
Pools |
K-12 |
The
Vernal Pool Association has a variety of examples of school
projects involving vernal pools. |
| FrogWatch USA |
K-12 |
FrogWatch USA is a
National Wildlife Federation program to engage citizens in
collecting local frog population data in neighborhoods across
the country. The site also has state by state information on the
frogs in your area.
Note: FrogWatch surveys should be conducted at dusk but
tape-recordings can be substituted for in-person surveys. |
