The Life of a Frog! 5th Grade Science Objective SCI.5.6C - Describe and compare life cycles of similar organisms including common plants and animals.

The Life of a Frog!The Life of a Frog!

55thth Grade Science Grade Science

ObjectiveObjective

SCI.5.6C - Describe and compare life cycles of similar organisms including common plants and animals.

SCI.5.11A - Identify, observe and evaluate actions that require time for changes to be measurable, including growth, erosion, dissolving, weathering, and flow.

Why are we Why are we learning about learning about

this?this?

Quick TalkQuick Talk

How do frogs and toads change as they How do frogs and toads change as they go through their life cycles?go through their life cycles?

Take three minutes to talk with your team! Be ready to share!

Today you are going Today you are going to research the life to research the life

cycle of a frog!cycle of a frog!

Use your frog rubber band book and other Use your frog rubber band book and other resources to document key changes in a frogs resources to document key changes in a frogs

life cycle.life cycle.

Journal of a TadpoleJournal of a Tadpole

You are going to record your research in You are going to record your research in your science journals!your science journals!

Make sure that your are using your own Make sure that your are using your own words. words. Please do not copy from your Please do not copy from your sources!sources!

The Egg The Egg Frogs lay their eggs in water or wet places.  A floating clump Frogs lay their eggs in water or wet places.  A floating clump

of eggs is called frog spawn.    of eggs is called frog spawn.     The large and slippery mass of eggs are too big to be eaten.  The large and slippery mass of eggs are too big to be eaten. 

This is nature's way of protecting them.  But, the smaller This is nature's way of protecting them.  But, the smaller clumps of eggs will be eaten by the creatures living near or in clumps of eggs will be eaten by the creatures living near or in the pond.the pond.

The egg begins as a single cell. Several thousand  are The egg begins as a single cell. Several thousand  are sometimes laid at once. It becomes surrounded by a jellylike sometimes laid at once. It becomes surrounded by a jellylike covering, which protects the egg. The female may or may not covering, which protects the egg. The female may or may not stay with the eggs to take care of the young after she has laid stay with the eggs to take care of the young after she has laid them. The egg slowly develops. But, only a few develop into them. The egg slowly develops. But, only a few develop into adults.  Ducks, fish, insects, and other water creatures eat the adults.  Ducks, fish, insects, and other water creatures eat the eggs.eggs.

The TadpoleThe Tadpole After its 21 day development period, the embryo leaves its jelly shell, After its 21 day development period, the embryo leaves its jelly shell,

and attaches itself to a weed in the water. This quickly becomes a and attaches itself to a weed in the water. This quickly becomes a tadpole, a baby frog.   The tadpoles grow until they are big enough to tadpole, a baby frog.   The tadpoles grow until they are big enough to break free into the water.  This can take from 3 days to 3 weeks, break free into the water.  This can take from 3 days to 3 weeks, depending on what kind of frog they will become.  They eat very small depending on what kind of frog they will become.  They eat very small plants that stick to larger plants in the water.  These tiny plants are plants that stick to larger plants in the water.  These tiny plants are called called algaealgae. The tadpole has a long tail, and lives in the water. It is . The tadpole has a long tail, and lives in the water. It is extremely vulnerable, and must rely on its camouflage to protect it. extremely vulnerable, and must rely on its camouflage to protect it. 

The tadpole has a long tail, and lives in the water. It is extremely The tadpole has a long tail, and lives in the water. It is extremely vulnerable, and must rely on its camouflage to protect it.  The vulnerable, and must rely on its camouflage to protect it.  The tadpoles also face danger by being eaten by other water animals.  tadpoles also face danger by being eaten by other water animals.  Sometimes the pond dries up. As a result the tadpoles die.Sometimes the pond dries up. As a result the tadpoles die.

The FrogletThe Froglet After about five weeks, the tadpole begins to change. It starts to grow After about five weeks, the tadpole begins to change. It starts to grow

hind legs, which are soon followed with forelegs.   Behind their heads hind legs, which are soon followed with forelegs.   Behind their heads bulges appear where their front legs are growing. Their tails become bulges appear where their front legs are growing. Their tails become smaller.  Lungs begin to develop, preparing the frog for its life on land.   smaller.  Lungs begin to develop, preparing the frog for its life on land.   Now and then, they wiggle to the surface to breathe in air.  The tail Now and then, they wiggle to the surface to breathe in air.  The tail becomes larger and makes it now possible for the tadpole to swim becomes larger and makes it now possible for the tadpole to swim around and catch food.  They eat plants and decaying animal matter.  around and catch food.  They eat plants and decaying animal matter.  Some tadpoles eat frogs eggs and other tadpolesSome tadpoles eat frogs eggs and other tadpoles

Over time, the tadpole becomes even more froglike.  They have Over time, the tadpole becomes even more froglike.  They have shed their skin and lips. Its mouth widens, and it loses its horny shed their skin and lips. Its mouth widens, and it loses its horny jaws. The tail becomes much smaller, and the legs grow. The jaws. The tail becomes much smaller, and the legs grow. The

lungs are almost functioning at this point.lungs are almost functioning at this point.

The FrogThe Frog Eleven weeks after the egg was laid, a fully Eleven weeks after the egg was laid, a fully

developed frog with lungs, legs, and no tail developed frog with lungs, legs, and no tail emerges from the water. This frog will live mostly emerges from the water. This frog will live mostly on land, with occasional swims. The tiny frogs on land, with occasional swims. The tiny frogs begin to eat insects and worms.  Eventually, it will begin to eat insects and worms.  Eventually, it will find a mate. The way this is done varies depending find a mate. The way this is done varies depending on the species. The female lays the eggs, the male on the species. The female lays the eggs, the male fertilizes them, and the whole process begins fertilizes them, and the whole process begins again. again.

A FROG A TOAD

The Life Cycle of a FrogThe Life Cycle of a Frog

The Development of a The Development of a TadpoleTadpole

ReflectionReflection A frog’s life cycle does not have a larval A frog’s life cycle does not have a larval

or pupa stage. Why then is a frog or pupa stage. Why then is a frog considered to go through considered to go through metamorphosis?metamorphosis?

KWLKWLKK WW LL

It’s Project It’s Project Time!!!!Time!!!!You are going to be working on an You are going to be working on an

original life story that will be due on original life story that will be due on Friday! Tune in for details!!! Friday! Tune in for details!!!