The+Tads+2012+Teacher+Info

=   THE LIFECYCLE OF A FROG   =

TEACHER INFO Home>>Teacher Resources>>Student Task Outline>>References

__**Activities proposal - Teachers please feel free to look at these.**__

Week 1
Introduce the topic and play the short video on the Teacher Resource page to familiarise the students and help them understand some key changes to look for. This would be then followed by a mat session to set up the tank and allow children to understand how to look after the tadpoles. After answering questions, introduce the idea of keeping a journal on the process. As changes do not occur daily, we would recommend the journal entries to be updated daily. The first entry may include the set up process and some initial observations the students have found.
 * Day 1 - One - Two hours**

It is suggested that a notepad is provided to each student for daily observations that can be document to the journal page template.

Here is a suggested template for the journal writing..........

In keeping with making the children responsible we would suggest that a weekly monitor is selected to help attend to the tadpoles.

Week 2
Have the class update their journals noting any changes to the tadpoles and perhaps drawing what they see. This is suggested on a weekly basis, on a day that best suits the class programs.
 * Day 7**
 * Task 1 - Half an hour**

Separate the class into five groups. We recognise that all students are at different literacy levels and suggest that every group has at least one strong reader.
 * Task 2 - One hour**
 * 1) Eggs/spawn
 * 2) Tadpoles
 * 3) Back Legs
 * 4) Front Legs
 * 5) Frogs

Have the students do some research using resources and websites. Have them find a suitable picture and relevant information on the cycle stage of their group.

Introduce the life cycle song.
 * Task 3 - Half an hour**

Week 3
Introduce a website creation site and explain how to set up a page and enter information and picture or alternatively a powerpoint presentation. One suggested method would be by creating the home page and have the children offer some information (like class name, year level, topic). It is recommended that the teacher prepares for this lesson by setting up the site with pages for each cycle. Some suggested free and easy to use sites Thinkquest, [|Weebly], Yola, Webs.
 * Task 1**

Children can also be introduced to blogging at this stage. All journal entires may be entered on to a classroom blogging website such as KidBlog.org This is a place where teachers can open up a classroom blogging account for their students.

Here is an example of a website created in Webs. The Tads 2012 - Class Website

When this is completed have the students form their groups again and using the information found start writing a small three to four sentence story on their stage. Then allow them to design their cycle page on the website.

Practise life cycle song.
 * Task 2 - Half an hour**

Week 4 - 6
Once again have the students form their groups. For this segment it is suggested that each group has access to a computer. After a lesson explaining how to use Tux paint have the groups create artwork based on the particular stage of the cycle. When the individual groups are happy print these pictures and enlarge them with photocopiers. From there have the class arrange the prints in order with some large arrows in-between (this can also be produced on tux paint). Finally these can be glued on to strong card to be placed in front of the particular stage cycle group for the assembly presentation. Here are some examples of art that could be produced:
 * Art - 1 hour per week**

Another fabulous tool that Tux paint has and is perfect for this is that once the students have completed their artwork it can be then set up as a slide show in order of cycles. This will also help students to remember the cycle. ** Week 7 - 9 ** Have the class practise three times a week both the stories and the frog cycle song. We also suggest that you prepare a script that the students can take home to practise.
 * Half an hour per session**

Week 10
Perform the story and song at an assembly in front of the entire school. As apart of the performance have the Tuxpaint artwork in front and stand the individual groups behind their cycle picture. If you have access to an interactive whiteboard the website or power point could be shown in the background to the same timing of the cycle stories. It is also suggested that this performance is filmed by a student (should be chosen fairly by a game elimination or hat draw.)
 * Half an hour**

To complete this projected it is suggested to upload the assembly video, this is suggested as a complete class activity so the entire class learns how this is done.
 * Final task half an hour**

The Final Reward
As a reward it is suggested that an excursion is planned to a suitable frog habitat and release the frogs back to the environment. This can be combined with an exploration of the typical frog habitat with some small relevant activities, which would then be an introduction to the Science - scope and sequence for year 4 which moves from life cycles to habitat, endangers and food sources etc.
 * Half a day**