Amphibians
Name:

Amphibians are animals that have backbones and that can live in water or on land. Most amphibians have legs and can swim, cralw or hop. They are able to breathe on land because they have lungs. The skin of an amphibian has many pores and glands to secrete moisture to keep it's skin from drying out. Some amphibians such as the frog lay soft jellylike eggs which develop into a tadpole. The amphibians diet is composed mostly of insects. Amphibians live in wetlands, and in moist humid areas. Amphibians include toads, salamanders, frogs and newts.

Amphibians are amazing creatures. Scientists are beginning to recognize them as an indicator species to let us know about the health of our environment. If amphibians are surviving well the environment is healthy. If amphibians are having trouble breeding, or have deformities, they are the first species that is easy for us to observe and see that something is wrong in the environment. Since they live in the water, it is likely that something is wrong with the water. It is somehow polluted and what is now harming the amphibians will soon be harming man. We need to learn more about how frogs are doing in the environment so that we may be able to protect mankind from ignorantly harming his environment and jeopardizing his own health.

Vocabulary - Type your answer in the box.
(Correct Spelling Counts)

  • jelly
  • skin
  • moist
  • wetlands
  • vertebrates
  • insects
  • hop
  • air
  • lungs
  • tadpole

1. Amphibians have backbones and are called ____ .


2. Amphibians use ____ to breathe.


3. Amphibians love to eat ____ .


4. Most amphibians have legs and can ____ , crawl, or swim.


5. A frog skin is ____ .


6. Amphibians breathe ____ .


7. An amphibian needs to live in the ____ where it is moist and humid.


8. An amphibians eggs look like ____ .


9. The ____ of an amphibian has many pores and glands.


10. A ____ develops into a frog.

Your score is out of 10.

Find Out!

Use the Internet to find out more about amphibians and frogs:
  • What do frogs eat?
  • How do frogs defend themselves?
  • Draw a picture of the life cycle of a frog and write a list that tells what happens in the different stages.
  • Read - "The Frogs and the Crane" is a Native American tale about a frog. Find out what the lesson is that the Indians wanted to teach through this story.

Further Your Interest

In this lesson you will use the Internet and information presented in class to learn more about amphibians, specifically frogs. You may choose one of these ways to present the information you learn:
  • pop-up book
  • jokes
  • short play
  • poem or chant
  • jump rope rhyme
  • cartoon
  • song
  • a book of frog or amphibian facts
  • labeled illustration of a frog
  • create a frog using clay, model magic, etc.
  • create a diorama showing an amphibians environment
  • use various types of pasta to design a frog skeleton
  • illustrate several different types of frogs or amphibians
  • create a moving frog using odds-n-ends (powered by air, water, rubberband, etc.)
  • use a literature book about frogs to create a board game
  • use odds-n-ends to make an instrument that sounds like a frog
  • label a map to show where three different types of frogs live
  • label a map to show where frogs that are endangered live
  • draw a picture of an endangered frog, write what people can do to help
  • use fabric, paper and odds-n-ends to create a frog puppet
  • make an origami frog
  • create questions about frogs that a classmate could answer
  • create a book of drawings of other amphibians besides frogs
  • write frog story problems that a classmate could solve
  • draw and label the life cycle of a frog
  • create a predator/prey game to use at recess or gym
  • draw an example of a food chain which would include a frog

Internet Links About Amphibians

Whole Frog Project provides 3D visualization of a frog for high school level students.

ZOOLOGY - Frogging Reports provides pictures of various frogs and links to other sources.

The Somewhat Amusing World of Frogs provides more facts about frogs.

Virtual Frog Dissection Kit provides an interactive program for high school level students.

Frog Anatomy shows you what the inside of a frog looks like.

Frog Calls will let you listen to a variety of frogs.

Frequently Asked Frog Questions has answers that may help you with your project.

Smithsonian Institution Froggy Pictures has wonderful pictures of frogs to see.

Frogs of the Gardens will give you facts about frogs that live in Australia.