Spectrum of Light

Excitement abounds with the study of the spectrum of light in upper elementary. Besides enjoying many experimental activities, once the camera was introduced, the lights went off and the children couldn't wait to see what they could capture on film.

Grow-A-Frog

The lower elementary class is enjoying a new science and life experience. 

Our class has had 2 special kind of frog (Grow-A-Frog). These particular frogs are from South America, but we ordered them from Florida. The students have been comparing these frogs with basic frogs and noting their differences and similarities. 

The students were very surprised to find that these frogs always live in water, even as adults!

After being together for four years, our frogs spawned eggs. It was an exciting experience that we were able to observe through out the day. Currently, we have little eggs in our tank. 

What an awesome hands on learning opportunity this will be for our class. Friday, we observed the birth and learned about the life cycle  of a frog. We also created a time line to allow us to track the metamorphic changes we observe. 

If the eggs survive, our plan is each student will his/her own frog to study, observe, feed, and take care of in class. Every day the students will make certain the habitat of their tadpole is intact. The children will be recording their daily observations and observing their tadpoles' behavior.

The children will experience first hand the process of metamorphosis.  We will observe the eggs turn in to tadpoles, then tadpoles with legs and arms.  Eventually, the students will transfer their tadpoles to "new environments" in order to accommodate their growth. After the tadpoles change to frogs, the students will be allowed to adopt their animals as pets (with parental permission, of course)! The students will be required to demonstrate their knowledge of these rather fragile pets and how to care for them before they become adoptive parents. Some of the activities we will be doing include: mapping, writing poetry, observing, measuring, and planning. 

Stay tuned for more exciting frog news!

Submitted by: Jenn Darmogray