The life cycle and habitat of frogs are examined firsthand in a student built pond that is the focus of frog theme in our first grade classrooms. Students become involved in learning about pond components, food chains, and the water cycle as they help construct the pond from a child's swimming pool. Frog eggs, tadpoles, and frogs may be gathered in the spring from local ponds and streams. Frog eggs may also be purchased from a science catalog to coordinate with the beginning of your unit. Once the eggs arrive, the growing embryos, then tadpoles are monitored daily in a separate aquarium.
Students begin observing and recording in frog shaped journals.
This frog log is used throughout the study and is evaluated for an end of the nit assessment. Vocabulary such as amphibian, embryo, tadpole and life cycle are introduced through factual books. Construction of the pond is whole class project that involves using actual pond sand, water, plants, and snails. Much discussion, rationale and planning evolve as students discover what needs to be put into the pond in order for the tadpoles and frogs to survive. The food chain is made real as students make sure there is algae and food for the tadpoles, then the frogs.