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Focus on Frogs Mini-Lesson
Objective: Students will learn about some of the traits of frogs—the most successful amphibian group alive today.
Suggested Time: 15 minutes
Reading Level: Upper Elementary
Teacher Background
Living amphibians are divided into three groups—frogs and toads; newts, salamanders, and sirens; and the little-known, MORE
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Print or Project
- A Visual Overview: Show the slideshow of photos to your class. Each has a descriptive caption and kid-friendly copy for your students to read. (Please note that there is also more extensive teacher note copy just for you.)
- Creative Caption Review: Once you've been through the slideshow for an overview, go back through it again. This time ask students to explain why the captions do (or do not!) work. (Example: Do you think the caption "Leaps and Bounds" is a good one for the jumping frog? Why or why not?)
Click the thumbnail slides below to see the captions and kid-friendly copy up close.
- Continue the Conversation: Ask students to describe the kinds of frogs they've seen. Remind them that some frogs can jump twenty times their body length. Ask them to figure out how far they would have to jump to go twenty times their own body length.
- Write about it: Ask students to think about the role that water plays in a frog's life. Then ask them to write a paragraph that explains why the destruction of a wetland habitat might not be good for frogs.
Extension Activities
Reinforcements: These worksheets will be useful as you further develop your teaching unit. The Word Power worksheet will give your students vocabulary practice with key terms from this mini-lesson and the related activity will help reinforce key concepts on amphibians.
 | Focus on Frogs Word Power |  | Life Cycle of a Frog Reading Comprehension |
Excerpted from:
Eyewitness: Amphibian
Discover the different habitats and life cycles in the world of frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. Take a close look at the fascinating natural history of these creatures from the bright green, red-eyed tree frogs to dull, burrowing, wormlike caecilians; from startling black and yellow fire salamanders to tiny transparent glass frogs.
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