Frogs
FROGS: Research and Lessons Vocabulary cold-blooded: having a body temperature not regulated by the body and close to that of the environment hibernate: to pass the winter in a sleeping or resting state amphibian: any organism that is able to live both on land and in water metamorphosis: a change in the form of an animal (from tadpole to frog) gills: an organ (as of a fish) of thin plates or threadlike processes for obtaining oxygen from water Frog Observation Catch a tadpole, keep and watch it grow and change into a frog. Discuss metamorphosis as you watch it happen! Record your observations in the Frog Observation Hot Dog Mini Book. Hot Dog Folding Instructions Louisa's son also catches frogs and puts them in the frog aquarium to watch, and then he lets them go again. If you don't live close to a pond habitat (where you can catch a tadpole), you can still watch a frog from tadpole to adult by purchasing a Grow A Frog kit. Predator/Prey predator- an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals prey- animal hunted or killed by another animal for food Who does a frog hunt? spider, worm, ant, mosquito, earwig (answers will vary according to what book you read) Who hunts a frog? stork, blue heron, other birds, people, snakes, other birds (answers will vary according to what book you read) Frog vs. Toad Differences You can find information for this at the end of Frogs by Gail Gibbons. There is also information online at Enchanted Learning. Current Events
Watch for local news items. Frogs are kind of a gauge of environmental health. Their sensitivity to pollutants makes them susceptible. In our area there is a mass migration of toads every year so there was a huge article in the paper about toads and frogs. A huge barrier was erected along a new highway and the toads were trapped and carried across by volunteers. We went and saw the barrier and the toads. We also have a rare and endangered frog living in the wetlands beside our farm. Have your student keep her eye out for articles in the newspaper or online about frogs. Let your younger student fold it and keep it in the Current Events Pocket. An older student could write up a summary to put in the pocket (as well as the article, if desired). Tadpoles and Frogs Tadpoles: eaten by dragonfly larvae and water beetles Home- in the water Anatomy- has a tail and growing legs Breathes with gills Senses- smell and vibration Frogs: eaten by snakes and birds Home- lives on land near water Anatomy- has four legs Breathes with lungs Senses- sight and hearing Frog Ears Frogs can hear using big round ears on the sides of their head called a tympanum. (Tympanum means drum) Sometimes the ear is very hard to see. Frog Feet Different frogs use their feet for different things
Tree frogs use their feet (with sticky pads) for climbing Aquatic frogs have webbed toes that aid in swimming. Burrowing frogs use their feet for digging in the sand (in order to keep moist in the heat) Some frogs even have parachute-like webbing on their feet which helps them to glide from tree to tree or leaf to leaf. Frog Teeth Most frogs have teeth. What are maxillary teeth? They are a ridge of very small cone teeth around the upper edge of the jaw. Some also have Vomerine Teeth on the roof of their mouth. They don't have anything that could be called teeth on their lower jaw, so they usually swallow their food whole. The so-called "teeth" are mainly used to hold the prey and keep it in place till they can get a good grip on it in order to swallow it. Frog Skin Frogs drink and breathe through their skin! Their skin is slimy because frog skin secretes mucus that helps keep it moist. Even with the slimy skin, these frogs need to stay near water. In addition to jumping in water, frogs and toads can get moisture from dew, or they can burrow underground into moist soil. Frogs shed their skin regularly to keep it healthy. In order to get out of their skin, they turn and twist (and "act like they have the hiccups!"). After they have the skin off (a frog pulls it off over its head!), they eat it. Resources Library List Frogs by Gail Gibbons Growing Frogs by Vivian French From Tadpole to Frog by Wendy Pfeffer (Let's Read and Find Out Science)
Frogs, Toads, and Turtles (Take-Along Guide) by Diane Burris Stories to add The Frog Prince (read online) Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel Days With Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel Materials and information may be used for your own personal and school use. Material may not be used for resale or shared electronically. Homeschool Share
Cut book out as one piece. Fold each triangle under in order to form four flaps. Let your student write about each part of the frog under the appropriate flap. Frog Feet will be the top of your book. Frog Skin FROG feet FROG EARS FROG TEETH
Gills Hibernate Amphibian metamorphosis Cold Blooded Cut out shapes. Let your student write (or cut/paste) definitions on each piece. Stack together and staple on the left side of the front cover (you could also use a brass fastener). A few blank pieces are included on the next page if you d like to add words.
having a body temperature not regulated by the body and close to that of the environment any organism that is able to live both on land and in water to pass the winter in a sleeping or resting state A change in the form of an animal (from tadpole to frog) an organ (as of a fish) of thin plates or threadlike processes for obtaining oxygen from water
Tadpole Frog Cut on the dotted lines so that you have two pieces (tadpole and frog). Cut book on next page out as one piece. Fold in half. Glue the tadpole piece on one side and the frog piece on the other. Let your student write the differences under the headings (or cut apart the already typed up descriptions and let your student paste them on the appropriate sides). eaten by dragonfly larvae and water beetles lives in the water eaten by snakes and birds lives on land near water has a tail and growing legs has four legs
Tadpole or Frog breathes with gills senses: smell and vibration breathes with lungs through skin senses: sight, hearing
Species Anatomy REMOVE THIS AREA (Cut away so you have just a tab left) Diet REMOVE THIS AREA
Assembly Directions: Cut the six strips along the solid outer lines. If there is a rectangle piece in the right corner of the strip, cut it off as indicated (remove this area). Stack your strips in order and staple at the left side of the front page (Frog Report) where the marks are indicated. Range REMOVE THIS AREA Classification
Cut out book as one piece. Fold on solid black lines so that Why Do Frogs Sing is on the front of the book. Cut on dotted lines to form four shutters (or flaps). Let your student write one reason that frogs sing behind each flap. If your student is too young to write, you can cut/paste the words from the next page behind the flaps. FROGS SING WHY DO
When they are trying to attract a mate. They know the weather is going to change. They sing to mark their territory trying to attract a mate. Sometimes, they squeak when they are frightened or hurt. Frog clip-art has been added in case your student would like to use it to decorate his lapbook; it is not a part of the shutter-flap book.
Cut cards out on previous page. Cut out pocket (on this page) as one piece. Fold back up and fold flaps around the back and glue down. Let your student put the cards in order. You can add information/titles to the backs of the cards if you like. You can also write 1, 2, 3, 4 so that when your student finishes putting them in order, he can turn them over and see if he has them in the right sequence.
Species Anataomy REMOVE THIS AREA (Cut away so you have just a tab left) Diet REMOVE THIS AREA
Assembly Directions: Cut the six strips along the solid outer lines. If there is a rectangle piece in the right corner of the strip, cut it off as indicated (remove this area). Stack your strips in order and staple at the left side of the front page (Frog Report) where the marks are indicated. Range REMOVE THIS AREA Classification
Who does a frog hunt? Who hunts a frog? Cut book out as one piece. Fold like a tri-fold with Predator/Prey on the cover. Cut on dotted lines to form flaps. Write the definition of predator/prey under their flaps. Answer the predator/prey questions under their flaps.
Cut pocket out as one piece. Fold back behind the front. Fold flaps around the back and glue down. Back of pocket
Date: Notes: Date: Notes: Date: Notes: Date: Notes: Date: Notes: Date: Notes:
Cut both pockets out. Fold back flap up and wrap side flaps around the back and glue down. Glue the back of your pocket into your lapbook.
Let your student color the lily pads, if desired. If your student does not like to color, consider printing this file on four different colors of paper (one color per page) to add variety. Cut each book out as one piece. Each piece consists of two rectangles and a lily pad. Do not cut any of the parts of the book off. When finished cutting (on all four pages), you should have a total of eight pieces. Fold (mountain style) on the solid black line between the two rectangles. The frog question should be on the front. Next, fold the lily pad up so that it covers the question. Let your student write an answer inside the book. Paste the back of the book (blank white rectangle) into your lapbook. Answers for the books have been included for your convenience (your student can cut/paste the answers instead of writing them out). Where do frogs live? Where do frogs lay their eggs?
What is a baby frog called? What do frogs eat?
Frogs catch their prey with their long sticky tongues. Frogs hibernate in the winter. Frogs hunt at night. Frogs eat small insects, spiders, and worms. What do frogs do in the winter? When do frogs hunt?
Frogs live in ponds, swamps, marshes, woodlands, and ditches. A baby frog is called a tadpole or polliwog. Frogs lay their eggs in the water. A frog has smooth, wet skin. How do frogs catch their prey? What kind of skin do frogs have?
remove this area Cut out wheels. Cut away the extra area on the cover wheel (where indicated). Let your student cut/paste the pictures into the right sequence. Attach wheels together using a brass fastener.
egg adult tadpole froglet
Cut out book on previous page. Fold in half. Cut out frog and paste into book. Label the following: nostril, ear drum, eye, webbed foot, hind leg, vocal sac
Cut out book as one piece. Fold in half on the black line. Cut on the dotted lines to form three flaps.
Cut pieces on solid black lines. Let your student write a frog fact on each piece. Stack together with cover on top. Attach (where indicated) with a brass fastener.