Studying amphibians is a natural interest for most students. After all, some amphibians hop, they stick out their tongues to catch their meals, and they go back and forth from land to water. Studying amphibians is also a great way to expand students’ critical thinking skills through STEM. Luckily, some great books can help teachers, parents, librarians, and others on this mission.
First of all, what is an amphibian? By definition, they are a cold-blooded vertebrate animal that usually has two different life stages in two different habitats. That is, larval in a water stage, and breathing in a land environment. Amphibians include frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. Caecilians are also included, though they are not as well known. The word amphibian derives from the Greek words “amphi”, which means “both sides”, and “bio”, which means “life”. This refers to the two stages of life in two different environments.
Many engaging books teach and inspire children to learn more about amphibians.
Background knowledge:
A good way to introduce amphibians as a subject is to assess your students’ background knowledge and introduce some key vocabulary words. The following links show the life cycle of frogs. I’ve also included a list of some vocabulary words related to amphibians, gleaned from some of the books in this month’s list. The words are:
Ectothermic, vertebrate, aquatic, metamorphosis, and herpetologist.
Frog Life Cycle: Nat Geo Kids: Video and other information on frogs, including visuals of the life cycle.
Amphibian Vocabulary: a list of amphibian vocabulary from books from the list. Tier 2 and 3, also includes a worksheet to help students use and understand words.
KWL Chart: Can be used to introduce amphibians, and gauge what students already know about them, what questions students have, and what they might want to learn!
Amphibian Acrobats by Leslie Bulion Illustrated by Robert Meganck
This book is a cleverly written and whimsically illustrated book on amphibians that could be used in a classroom in many ways. It is oriented around a variety of poem styles that describe various amphibians (including caecilians!), and each entry also provides factual information on the habitat, lifecycle, and other details on each animal.
Some of the other information in the book is actual notes on the kinds of poems, with specific vocabulary and details on each type of poem. There is also information on the current state of amphibians in the world, and how they need our help; they have included resources on how to help. There is also a great world map that lists where specific native amphibians live, and it also includes their specific threat of extinction.
The language in each poem is engaging, with inventive and colorful words describing each creature and their activities. For example:
The Daredevil Free-Climbers:
We will teethe scummy plants,
Then slurp termites and ants,
When we’re fat burrow frogs, down below!
(Amazing Amphibians, page 39 ebook)
I love the use of “scummy” and “slurp termites and ants”, it’s very visual! And, I’m sure that students would enjoy it also!
Different writing techniques are also used, which could be utilized in class:
The Flag Waver:
A rival hopped up next to him, boi-oing!
A rival hopped up next to him.
Frog’s foot shot out-FLAG! -Take a Swim! Boi-oing!
(Amazing Amphibians, page 31 ebook)
We can always use a new way to introduce onomatopoeia! And this would be great as a read-aloud, to get students interested, and to make them think about word usage, and how to hook their readers.
Activities:
As the book focuses on poetry and the creative use of language, I thought a wonderful way to extend the ideas in this book was to have students write their own creative pieces. This could be adapted to fit many grade levels. One possibility is that students could pick their own choice of amphibian to research, and then write a “mini” research project on it. I have attached a mini book template below. Of course, it could also be done in PowerPoint or Google Slides.
Another idea is to have each student write a poem. Again, they could choose the amphibian of their choice. A haiku would be a great way to start, and a template is attached below. The class could even write a haiku together, and then be released to write their own. I would also focus on the use of creative, imaginative language to specifically describe their amphibian. The teacher/parent could read aloud several of the poems, and have students pick out the language that catches their attention, or can make them visualize their amphibian!
Another possible idea is to combine the mini research project with a poem, so that they can produce their own Amphibian Acrobats!
Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs by Annette Whipple
Do you know a student with burning questions about frogs, like how do they jump so high and why do some of them live underground? If so, then Annette Whipple’s Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs is a must for your home or classroom. It would be great for a read-aloud, or for dipping into to answer some of those questions.
Another great feature of this book is that Annette has prepared a textbook example of a Teacher Guide for a nonfiction guide. It is a downloadable package with many treasures inside. It includes activities for writing, reading, and STEM/STEAM activities; altogether, there are 8 ELA and 11 STEAM activities. It also includes 4 printable items, including “Lifecycle of a Frog” and “Frog Facts”. There are also some hands-on activities, such as origami frog math. All in all, it is a great addition to the book itself, and teachers/librarians will enjoy having these ready-made activities available for their use!
Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs Teacher Guide
Amazing Amphibians: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring Frogs, Toads, Salamanders and More by Lisa J. Amstutz
This is an amazing book, chock full of ideas to increase your knowledge of amphibians. It provides factual information, while also giving students many different ways to explore, including through art, cooking, in nature, games, writing, researching, and other hands-on STEM activities. This would be great for many ages and educational settings, from preschool through at least middle school. I think it would be useful for many settings, including schools, homeschools, and nature centers. I’ve chosen a few to highlight below, with some additional sources. However, there are step-by-step instructions for each activity in the book. It would make an excellent purchase for your personal library, or search for it in your school or town library.
Activity: Making a Frog/Toad Abode (Page 95)
Amphibians in general are at risk for habitat destruction, which can impact their life cycle. One way that humans can help is to provide shelter and a safe habitat. One of the activities in Amazing Amphibians details how to build a “toad abode”, though it can obviously be for frogs as well. It is on page 95, and it lists material requirements, as well as instructions on how to build it. It is a hands-on activity, and would work for many ages, with some adaptations. It could also be artistic, as some builders encourage decorating the “houses” with mosaic tile and other decorations. Listed below are some videos that give examples and further instructions on how to build them.
Another Video: How to Make Toad Abode
Activity: Making Faux Frog Eggs (Page 56)
A section of this book covers the frog life cycle, and many other books cover it as well. (I’ve provided a link to a Nat Geo Kids section on the Life Cycle of Frogs in the first section). After they’ve gotten a general introduction, this activity of making “faux” frog eggs would be great for many ages.
This activity uses water beads, water, and green food coloring. I did locate another option (more earth-friendly) that used chia seeds, and included creating a whole mini habitat. The video is attached below.
Making Frog Eggs with Chia Seeds
Final Suggestion:
For kids who are truly interested in studying amphibians and reptiles, there is an online program that is coordinated by the Amphibian Foundation. It includes “camps” for younger students and classes for amphibian pet owners. There is a modest cost (see information below).
For older students who are interested in further training, there is a Junior Master Herpeologist Program, which is an 8-week online certification program for kids ages 12-14.
There are other programs available; click on the link below for more information.
Amphibian Foundation: Online Training for Students
