United StatesMystery of the Malformed Frogs Lesson Plan
Grade Levels: 5 - 12
Objective
Students will develop an understanding of how students and volunteers can make scientific observations that can aid conservation.
Materials
- Computer with Internet access
- Mystery of the Malformed Frogs – Background Information
- Copies of the Mystery of the Malformed Frogs Student Handout
Procedure
- Have your students read the account of the Minnesota New Country School
project by Ryan Fisher, Mystery of the Malformed Frogs. Ask your students what they would have done if they had found that half of the frogs in a local pond were malformed. Would they have reported their results to anyone? If so, to whom? How might they know when their observations are important enough to report to a government agency or scientist?
- Explain to the students that any population will have some malformed animals, and the number of malformed individuals will vary from one population to another. Ask your students how they might go about determining whether the malformations found at the Minnesota pond were a random event or an event that needed to be investigated.
- Students may want to further explore the Minnesota New Country School Frog Project website, which includes an interactive page for monitoring herp malformations.
Provided by the National Science Teachers Association.
Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Month
May is Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Month! Don't overlook this opportunity to study and enjoy activities about the history and culture of Asian-Pacific American communities.
The recent rash of tornadoes in Oklahoma, which killed at least two dozen people, may have your students wondering why such natural disasters occur, how they may be affected by them, and what they can do to help. Use these resources to teach the geography of Oklahoma and the Southwestern United States, to explain tornadoes, and to discuss the resulting crises with your class.
Top 10 Galleries
Explore our most popular Top 10 galleries, from Top 10 Behavior Management Tips for the Classroom and Top 10 Classroom Organization Tips from Veteran Teachers to Top 10 Free (& Cheap) Rewards for Students and Top 10 Things Every Teacher Needs in the Classroom. We'll help you get organized and prepared for every classroom situation, holiday, and more! Check out all of our galleries today.
May Calendar of Events
May is full of holidays and events that you can incorporate into your standard curriculum. Our Educators' Calendar outlines activities for each event, including: Backyard Games Week (5/23-29) and Memorial Day (5/27). Plus, celebrate Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Month, Clean Air Month, and Physical Fitness & Sports Month all May long!
Common Core Lessons & Resources
Is your school district adopting the Common Core? Work these new standards into your curriculum with our reading, writing, speaking, social studies, and math lessons and activities. Each piece of content incorporates the Common Core State Standards into the activity or lesson.
