Investigations in Science 7 February 26, 2016

What we did this week:

This week, we completed frog dissections. The PTA funds our frog
dissections each year. This is a lab that students will remember for a lifetime.
This is our most expensive lab that we complete each year. Thank you to all the
PTA members for helping us fund this lab. If you arent already a member of the
PTA, you can join here: http://farquharpta.org/online-store/membership-anddirect-appeal/
On the first day of frog dissection, we looked at how a tadpole changes into
a frog what types of things change. Students received their frogs, gave them a
name, and then we started by observing how the hind legs are different from the
forelegs. We found that the hind legs are more muscular, longer, and have more
"toes." The hind legs help with jumping while the forelegs help with balance.
We also observed the eyes. Did you know that the frog has a third eyelid
called the nictating membrane that acts like goggles while underwater?
Students then found the tympanum which is the circular eardrum. You can
predict if the frog is a male or female because the male tympanum is always larger
than its eyeball. Students predicted the gender, and some groups had to rename
their frog. We will know the gender for sure when we open the abdomen. If the
abdomen is filled with eggs, it is a female.
We also looked at the external nares on the frog (nose) and talked about
advantages of the external nares being on the top of the head. They are less likely
for predators to see them when they come up to breath = survival!
We observed the skin of the frog and determined many functions of the
frogs skin: camouflage, breath through it, drink through it, and some even have
poison glands to discourage predators (ours do not).
Tuesday, we started by looking at some adaptations that allow a frog to live
on both land and water, such as; gills turning to lungs, smooth skin, webbed feet,

nictating membrane, external nares (nose) on top of its head. Then we started to
open the mouth to look inside. They located the tongue and determined if it was
attached at the front or back of the mouth. I had some groups say, 'the tongue is
stuck to the lip' until they realized it was attached to the front of the mouth and
not in the back. They measured the length of the tongue as well. They saw that by
being attached to the front of the mouth, the tongue can out that much further
and catch prey more easily. We also felt the inside of the mouth for teeth. There
are teeth inside the mouth but not like we have.
We then poked our probe, without using pressure, in the external nares to
see where it came out. We were essentially picking its nose with a tool to see
where the tube led to, which happened to be the internal nares. Not all groups
were successful at finding this tube.
In the back of the mouth, we found the glottis (the air tube) and the gullet
(the food tube). We found Eustachian tubes as well. Again, we poked with our
probe to see where they led to. We found that they led to the tympanum (ears).
These tubes help the frog equalize air pressure when it swims deep in the water.
We started to look at the digestive system of the frog. We took some
observations of the different organs and opened up the stomach to see if there
was any food that the frog had eaten. We also looked to see the layers of muscles
in the stomach of the frog. We took a look at all the systems and made some
observations how they are similar and different to the systems that are found in
us. Some groups even were able to see if they could find the brain.
Many students asked to take pictures of their frogs, with their phones,
during the dissection. I told them they couldn't but offered to take pictures of
the things they wanted. I have uploaded many photos to my blog, some more
graphic of the frog. If you would like to see the photos, feel free to check my
blog. Ask your child if they would like to see. I know many are probably
interested.
Thursday, we also saw a speaker that experienced living through the
Holocaust. There were 3 different speakers and your child was assigned one of
the speakers to hear. Ask them who their speaker was and about their experience.
Friday, we will have a changed schedule. Students will not see their 2nd,
4th, or 5th periods. They will have an assembly during period 2. Classes that I see

on Friday, will continue with their dissections. A schedule for Friday can be found
on my blog.
Announcements:
Next week, we will have an open lab assessment at the end of the dissection.
Students will be able to use their lab paper to complete the assessment.
We will be cleaning out our binders very soon but please do not have your
child clean out their notebook just yet. Check your child's agenda book for when
we clean out our binder.
The student vs. staff basketball game was on Thursday which is always our
most crowded game of the game. The staff won with a score of 44 to 43.
If your child is interested in attending Extreme Outdoor Ed, interest forms
are due by Monday. Forms can either be turned into me or Mr. Green. I have
attached an interest form if your child forgot to attend the interest meeting on
Thursday.
Coming Up:
Topics:
Start Inheritance and Variation of Traits Unit
Request for Proposal of new unit
Asexual and Sexual Reproduction
Dates:
March 9 PTA Meeting, 7:00-8:30, Media Center
March 18-19 Spring Play, 7:30 pm
March 20 Spring Play, 2:00 pm
March 22 & 23 No after school activities
March 23 End of Quarter 3