GUIDE No.

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REA: TOPIC: TEACHER: TIME:

NATURAL SCIENCE FROGS FACTS HANS QUEVEDO

GRADE:

2 A-B-C-D

FROM: NOVEMBER 28th 2011

TO: MARCH 16th - 2012

GRADE MOTTO: Building up my independence, strengthening my understanding and my relationships with others by contributing to the environment and atmosphere at school, at home and in the natural world. INTRODUCTION: Importance of understanding and knowing all the facts about frogs. The information is discussed as we go over it. ACTIVITY: The following information will be read and explained to the students in order to get a better understanding of frogs.

What are frogs? Frogs are amphibians that belong to a group called vertebrates which mean animals that have a backbone. Their skin absorbs water into their body so they don't have to drink water in order to survive. Frogs have very strong legs for leaping great distances. Where do frogs live? Frogs may be found anywhere in the world (excluding Antarctica), although most frogs are found in the tropics. You can find frogs in or near places that have water. Some frogs never go into the water they live mainly on land. Some frogs even live in trees. These frogs have tiny, sticky pads on their fingers and toes to help them cling to the trees they climb. What do frogs look like? A frog is a small, tailless animal with bulging eyes. Almost all frogs have long back legs and short front legs, a flat head, and body with no neck. Adult frogs have no tail, though one North American species has a short tail - like structure. Most frogs have a sticky tongue attached to the front part of the mouth. They can rapidly flip out the tongue to capture prey. They may vary in color or size. Most frogs are green or brown, but some have colorful markings. The smallest species of frog grow only 1/2 inches long. The largest measures nearly a foot! Frog or Toad A frog usually has smooth, moist, skin, is slimy and jumps, and spends most of their lives in or near water. A toad tends to be dry, warty-looking a walks, and spends more time living on land. A group of frogs is called an army, while a group of toads is called a knot. What does a frog eat? Frogs don't hunt for their food. Their big eyes are on top of their head so they can see all the way around. Frogs eat other animals, typically bugs and worms. Frogs help humans because they eat so many insect pests. Some large species of frogs, like the African bullfrog, will try to eat just about anything, including other frogs as well as small fish, reptiles, and mammals. 1

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How long do frogs live? Very little is known at all about the natural lifespan of frogs. This is because it's pretty hard to track a frog all of its life! However, some records show that in captivity, many species of frogs and toads can live for surprisingly long times. They generally seem to average somewhere between 4 and 15 years! The longest lifespan entered was a European Common Toad at 40 years!! How does a frog protect itself from enemies? Not all species of frog protect themselves the same way. Some frogs have poison glands in their skin. The skin secretes the liquid and covers the body with the poison. Some frogs use their colors to protect themselves. This warns the enemies that they will either taste bad or they may be poisonous. Who are the enemies of a frog? Frogs have many enemies. Foxes, bats, rats, birds, fish, raccoons, turtles, snakes, and humans are a frog's enemy. But human beings are the worst! We destroy their homes and breeding places by replacing natural areas with cities, homes, and farms. We also pollute and therefore poison the water in which frogs live. Why are frogs important? Frogs benefit us in many ways. They eat large number of insects. They provide us with food. The meaty hind legs of larger frogs are considered a delicacy in many countries. In the United States, people eat mainly the legs of bullfrogs, green frogs, and leopard frogs. Frogs are also used in labs to help researchers to test new drugs and students in school dissect them to learn about anatomy. Can a frog see well? Frogs have fairly good eyesight, which helps them in capturing food and avoiding any enemies. A frog's eyes bulge out so he can see in almost any direction. How do frogs move? Frogs that swim use their powerful hind legs and webbed feet to push them through the water. On land, the frogs hop. They use their very strong hind legs to leap. Most frogs can jump ten times their body length.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: http://www.tooter4kids.com/Frogs/general_information.htm