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 THE LIFECYCLE OF A FROG

Student Task Outline

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 * Timeline: **10 weeks**

Over the coming weeks you will be looking at life cycles. In particular that of the frog. This study will be approximately ten weeks. Small groups will be allocated by your teacher and you will be studying in depth the life cycle of a frog, with technology being a source to enhance your learning. You will be improving your research skills using the computer as well as creating a web page and some art using technology.

You will be breaking into groups and be allocated a life cycle stage. From your research you will create a very short information story about your stage. When this is finished you will be learning how to create a class website and will be able to place the story and any other facts you would like to include.

The next phase is to create some artwork using the program Tux paint:

media type="youtube" key="HBHfE2J0i7Y" width="253" height="210" (Gnuchris, 2008) You will learn how to use the program and then create pictures for both the journal entries and the presentation of the particular stage that has been assigned. This will then be uploaded to the class website and also printed and enlarged to create an actual cycle to present.

You will be learning a frog life cycle song and each group will learn their own cycle stage story. This will then be put together to perform as our class assembly item. You will also learn how to film this however when it comes to the assembly one class mate will be chosen via elimination. This will be the final addition to the class website on the life cycle of the frog.

During this process there will be tadpoles set up in the classroom to observe and monitor changes. You will be keeping a journal to record the observations you have noticed. You will need to update your journal weekly, after taking daily notes. You will also draw any observable changes in tux paint to print out and glue into your journal.

Tank Set Up
Resources required to keep a tank in the classroom: "**good size container" (McLeod. 2012) or tank, dechlorinated water, rocks or gravel, some plants, frozen lettuce leaves or spinach, fish food flakes, algae tablets.**

Instructions for preparation:** It is recommended to layer the base of the container with rocks or gravel and on a slant to provide a wet area as well as a dry area for when the tadpoles form lungs. "Tadpoles prefer shallow water" (McLeod. 2012) and it must be dechlorinated. It is also recommended that some underwater plants are added to the tank. This serves two purposes 1. generating oxygen and 2. providing algae which becomes a food source to the tadpoles.

"Tadpoles are herbivores" (McLeod. 2012) and therefore a diet of lettuce or spinach that has been frozen and thawed is perfect. They will also require fish food flakes and algae tablets. NB. Some pet shops will sell specific tadpole food which can replace fish flakes. it is recommended that tadpoles are fed small amounts twice a day. Adding large amounts of food can be detrimental to water quality.

It is also encouraged to leave the tank either outside in the shade or to place the tank as close to an area in the classroom that will emulate the outside environment.

We recommend that a student or small group of students be allocated the task of frog monitors rotating on a weekly basis. Which gives the child a sense of responsibility.

Key information for keeping tadpoles

Our intention is that by the end of the ten weeks the students would have created a fun skit to be performed in front of the school at an assembly. It is our intention to create a website or powerpoint presentation that can be played in the background and creating artwork for this event. For all of these it is our intention to integrate extensive use of technologies in various forms.


 * We have suggested this time line as we assume that spawn is harder to come across and acknowledge if you are keeping a tank from the tadpole stage ten weeks would be the approximate time. Students should be familiar with the time line actually being approximately 12 weeks (depending on species) from spawn to frog however must know that tadpoles kept will all be at different stages of the cycle and hence the timeline will vary.

= Student Resources =

Website Resources
Biology Resource Fantastic website which provides detailed word documents on frogs.

Website for children. From raising to feeding and caring for tadpoes/frogs This sites name is Squidoo, this is a very useful site for students to perform their research for the cycle stories.

Frog Facts This sight gives information about each stage of the frog cycle. This would be a good place to for the students to start to come up with their stories.

The Kiddyhouse This sight is another excellent resource for the students to do their research.

Colouring in page on frog lifecycle This links to a particular page of the teacher resource we named Some extra activities. It is a colouring page on the actual lifecycle stages. (Grade, 2012)

Science kids website- Fun frog facts This site has some facts about frogs. It is given in point form and is easy for children to follow.

Frogland website- frog facts, frog jokes, frog games This website is actually called "All About Frogs" and is a very informative site dedicated to frogs.

Tux paint This contains information on this program and offers the ability to download the program for free. It is specifically designed for children and is an art program. We have included this here as it is a child friendly program that the students may wish to download at home with parental permission.

Childrens Guide to Website Creating This is a comprehensive site that provides a guide for children of all ages to create a website. It suggests sites according to the purpose of the site.

Document Resources
frog_song.doc This is the life cycle song that we have chosen for the assembly item. This song is sung to the tune of Mary had a little Lamb. Please note there are many different life cycle songs available. (doe.virginia gov, 2012)

Frog Game Resource
Life Cycle of the Frog Interactive game A brilliant interactive game which requires students to have knowledge of a frogs life cycle. Also includes an animated clip comparing plants and animals life cycles.