It's a Frog's Life.From tiny egg to tadpole tadpole, larval, aquatic stage of any of the amphibian animals. After hatching from the egg, the tadpole, sometimes called a polliwog, is gill-breathing and legless and propels itself by means of a tail. to full-grown adult, the frog has a fascinating life cycle. Leap into this unit with your students to discover why frogs really are fabulous creatures FROGGY Frog´gy a. 1. Abounding in frogs. FACTS * Frogs are amphibians amphibians members of the animal class Amphibia. Includes frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and cecilians all capable of living on land or in water. , a scientific classification of creatures that live both on land and in water. (The word amphibian amphibian, in zoology amphibian, in zoology, cold-blooded vertebrate animal of the class Amphibia. There are three living orders of amphibians: the frogs and toads (order Anura, or Salientia), the salamanders and newts (order Urodela, or Caudata), and the is from the Greek, meaning "two lives.") They are cold-blooded, which means their body temperature changes with their surroundings. * The male frog of most species has a loud call, used to attract female frogs. Some, like the bullfrog bullfrog, common name of the largest North American frog, Rana catesbeiana. Native to the E United States, this species has been successfully introduced in the West and in other parts of the world. The body length is 4 to 8 in. , make noise by puffing their throats out like big balloons, then forcing the air out. * Most frogs have sleek bodies, smooth skin, and bulging eyes, but they come in all shapes and sizes. The smallest frog, Eleutberodactylusiberia, is found in Cuba and can fit on your thumbnail, while the world's largest, the West African West Africa A region of western Africa between the Sahara Desert and the Gulf of Guinea. It was largely controlled by colonial powers until the 20th century. West African adj. & n. Goliath, grows up to one foot long and weighs as much as six pounds. * Since frogs make tasty prey, they must have several methods of defense to survive. So, these creatures are slippery and hard to hold, and powerful legs help them leap long distances. To escape from predators, they can often hide underwater for long periods. Some frogs use their colors and markings to blend into the environment, while the bolder poisonous frogs flaunt flaunt v. flaunt·ed, flaunt·ing, flaunts v.tr. 1. To exhibit ostentatiously or shamelessly: flaunts his knowledge. See Synonyms at show. 2. their bright colors, announcing to the world, "Don't touch me!" Certain frogs play dead when threatened; others puff themselves up to appear larger. FROG-EGG PUDDING Kids have a taste for frog eggs? To familiarize them with the eggy texture, purchase a tub of Kozy Shack Tapioca tapioca (tăpēō`kə), widely used starchy food, obtained from the fleshy root of the bitter cassava. Tapioca is sold in flake or flour form and as the pellet pearl tapioca. Pudding (www.kozy shack.com). Give each child a spoonful on a paper plate. Have children look for the "frog eggs," or pearl tapioca Pearl tapioca is a food ingredient made from cassava starch, where is it molded into pellets. The raw pellets are usually about 2-3 mm in diameter. They will retain their shape when cooked, but become swollen and translucent. , in the pudding. Then encourage youngsters to savor the taste of the jellylike pearls! FOUR FABULOUS FROGS Frogs vary widely, from the sounds they make to their distinctive markings. Introduce students to four common North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. frogs, covering one frog per day. For each frog, distribute copies of the reproducible, on page 36. Have students fill in the frog's name and then listen while you share its vital statistics (listed opposite). Have children write down what the frog's call sounds like and its favorite food. Next, tell students each frog's average length and have them color the ruler on the reproducible up to the appropriate point. Write the frog fact on the board for children to copy. Now, read aloud the physical description of the frog and instruct youngsters to use colored pencils to color in Verb 1. color in - add color to; "The child colored the drawings"; "Fall colored the trees"; "colorize black and white film" color, colorise, colorize, colour in, colourise, colourize, colour the frog's outline. (For photographs to share with the class, see Resources, opposite.) WEB AND SUCTION POWER How do webbed feet help frogs move through the water? Try this science simulation. Fill a deep, open plastic container with water. Have children take turns spreading their fingers and pushing their hands through the water. Next, loosely rubber-band a plastic bag over each child's hand and have the child spread his or her fingers inside the plastic bag and repeat the push. Can students feel the difference in the propulsion as they push their "webbed" hands through the water? You can also purchase inexpensive suction cups from a variety store. Encourage the children to try sticking them, both wet and dry, to different surfaces. Explain that some frogs have suction cups on the ends of their toes. How do frogs benefit from these suction-cup feet? LIFE CYCLE OF THE FROG Raising frogs from eggs to adults is not difficult to do and will enhance children's understanding of metamorphosis. Use the poster after page 36 to highlight the changes in the frog's physical appearance as it matures. To find frog eggs, take the class on a field trip to search in still or slow-moving bodies of water, where you may find clumps of jellylike egg masses on the water's surface. If eggs are not available naturally in your area, you can purchase them from the company Insect Lore (see Resources, upper right). Name Bullfrog. Description A dull green color with dark spots. Stamping Ground stamp·ing ground n. See stomping ground. stamping ground Noun a favourite meeting place Noun 1. East of the Mississippi River, through the central Great Plains, Texas, and along the West Coast. Length Seven inches. Sounds Like "Knee deep." Favorite Food Mice. Frog Fact The bullfrog is the largest frog that lives in the United States. Name Leopard Frog. Description Green with dark round spots. A yellow line runs from the corner of each eye down its back. Stamping Ground Everywhere except on the West Coast. Length Four inches. Sounds Like Fingers rubbing across a balloon. Favorite Food Spiders. Frog Fact In winter leopard frogs hibernate See hibernation mode. in lake beds. Name Spring Peeper spring peeper: see tree frog. spring peeper Species (Hyla crucifer) of tree frog found in ponds, marshes, and other damp areas in the U.S. During the breeding season it can be found in woodland ponds; at other times it is seldom seen. . Description Tan skin with an X marking across its back. Stamping Ground East of the Mississippi River to northern Florida and west into Texas. Length 1 1/2 inches long. Sounds Like A chorus of jingle bells. Favorite Food Small worms. Frog Fact Spring peepers have a croak that can be heard for half a mile. Name Cricket Frog. Description Green or brown skin with reddish markings on the back and legs. Stamping Ground Found east of the Mississippi River. Length 1 1/4 inches long. Sounds Like Two marbles tapping quickly together. Favorite Food Mosquitoes. Frog Fact This frog gets its name from its chirp, which sounds like that of a cricket. |
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