LOOK WHO’S HOPPING AROUND IN OUR GARDEN!

A WebQuest for Grades 3 - 6
STANNE@zoominter.com

Designed by
Margie Cretella

INTRODUCTION

 St. Anne School is in the process of  altering the school yard into a fresh-water habitat.  We would very much like to introduce toads and frogs into our wildlife pond.  Where will the toads  and frogs come from? How will we make our wildlife pond suitable for  these amphibians to live in? It will be exciting to have little critters hopping around our school yard!  Won’t it be fun to learn about some of God’s little creatures?

THE TASK

Students will use different forms of technology to gather as much information about toads  and frogs as they can.  They will use this information to help design a  fresh-water habitat that will be suitable for the toads and frogs to survive in. A journal will be kept by the students beginning with the preparing of the  fresh-water habitat. They will log when the toads and frogs arrive and will log any information that the students learn about these little creatures. They will draw and take pictures of these amphibians and the changes that take place. An oral report will give the students  the chance to share their findings with the other students.  Stones and old logs will be collected from the woods nearby to be used in the habitat. Students will have the chance to shop and purchase the plants that will be suitable for this habitat. After the teacher feels that enough knowledge is attained by the students, she/he can further the lesson by dissecting a frog.

THE PROCESS

 Students will log all information about the toads that they are observing. This log book will begin on the day that the fresh-water habitat is introduced to our school.  Students will learn the difference between frogs and toads through the information that they have gathered and will log the differences.  Frogs and toads need somewhere to hibernate, so the children will be involved in planting appropriate plants for the animals to hide in. These plants and any other  items needed will be purchased using a special fund raiser for this activity . Old logs brought in from the woods nearby will provide a nice resting spot for the amphibians.  Stones gathered from the woods will make a sleeping area suitable and comfortable for the creatures.

RESOURCES

A wealth of information can be obtained from the school and public libraries  Students are encouraged to use this resource to obtain information.

An excellent computer program is installed on our computers in the computer room.  Sammy’s Science House will provide the students with a wealth of knowledge about frogs, toads, and ponds. The students can keep a journal about these amphibians on the computer.  The students can also view the changes during the four seasons, which will help them to better understand what types of changes they can expect to see in their fresh-water habitat. Life cycles of these amphibians can be viewed on the screen, giving the students an excellent opportunity to see what will be going on during the first few weeks and months of the life of a frog or toad.

 A  “Catch the Frog” quiz can also be played on the Internet by using one of the following web sites.  Other information can be obtained through the use of these sites:

http://john.christian.home.mindspring.com/toads.html
http://cgee.hamline.edu/frogs/
http://www.yahooligans.com/content/ask_earl/20001031.html
http://members.tripod.com/~NachFamily/Joe/

        A fun game of leap the frog can also be played.

        Another resource for learning will be the teacher dissecting the frog.  The parts of a frog will be viewed by the students and they can therefore learn what makes the frog  live.  The better the understanding of the frog, the better the children can make a great habitat for it.

EVALUATION

       Students will be graded  using a point system.  A certain number of points will be attained by the different tasks accomplished as follows:

CONCLUSION

Students will have learned an ample amount of information about toads, frogs, and ponds.  The learning will begin with the onset of designing a fresh-water habitat.

        The learning will be enhanced through keeping a log book, doing an oral presentation, taking a test, and taking pictures.  Shopping and participating in the fund raiser will be added fun activities for the students that will also add points to their grade.  Good luck with all these fun activities!