Subjects
Subject(s)
Arts & Humanities
--Language Arts
Mathematics
--Measurement
Science
--Life Sciences
----Biology
----Animals
--Process Skills
Social Studies
--Current Events
Grades
Grades 2-up
News Content
Why in the world would scientists want to breed see-through frogs?
Anticipation Guide
Write the headline of todays News for Kids article -- Scientists Breed See-Through Frogs -- on a board or chart. Explain to students that this is the headline of todays news article. Ask students: Why in the world, do you think, might scientists want to breed see-through frogs? Write students responses under the headline. Doing this anticipation activity" will set a purpose for reading.
News Words
Next, introduce these words that appear in the News Word Box on the students printable page: university, female, tadpole, organs, research, dissect, experiment, breed, and bred. Discuss the meanings of any of the words that might be unfamiliar to students. Then ask students to use one of the words to complete each of these sentences:
Read the News
Click for a printable version of this weeks news story Scientists Breed See-Through Frogs.
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More Facts to Share
This video of the scientist and the see-through frogs from the National Geographic Web site will provide students a visual glimpse into this story. If you are unable to share the video, you might print out and share a color copy of this photo of one of the transparent frogs.
In addition, you might share these facts with students after they have read this weeks news story.
Comprehension Check
Revisit the Anticipation Guide at the top of this lesson; ask students to respond again to the question you posed. (Why in the world, do you think, might scientists want to breed see-through frogs?) Now that they have read the news, they should be able to share that scientists hope to breed the see-through frogs so they
You might follow-up that activity by asking some of these questions:
Recalling Detail
Think About the News
Discuss the Think About the News question that appears on the students news page. Students might share how mating dogs and cats of different breeds can result in puppies and kittens that might look different from the adults that bred them. They might share how people breed" together different roses and other flowers to create new species.
Follow-Up Activities
Language arts -- present and past tense of verbs. Ask students to fill in the blank in each of these sentence with the word breed or bred.
Science -- the frog life cycle. If you teach young students, print out and have students color by Steven Kellogg.
Mathematics. Many species of frogs can jump ten times the length of their bodies. Have students work in pairs or small groups to measure their classmates. Then have them do the math to figure out how far each person might jump if he/she had a frogs abilities. If you teach young students, you might have them cut a piece of string to match the length of their bodies. Then they might use chalk to mark on a sidewalk or asphalt play area a length that is ten lengths of their strings.
Language arts and geography (location, physical features, environment). Have students color a copy of this frog coloring page. Then have students write a letter from Freddy the Frog" [or a name they choose] to a friend or family member who lives out of state. The picture should be included with the letter, which should ask the friend or family member to send to Freddy a postcard that shows the environment at their location. As the postcards arrive, post them on a bulletin board. Talk with students about the physical features seen in the environmental postcards. Extend yarn from each picture card to the location on the map from which it comes.
Assessment
Use the Comprehension Check (above) as an assessment. Or have students work on their own (in their journals) or in their small groups to respond to the Think About the News question on the news story page.
Lesson Plan Source
Education WorldNational Standards
National Standards
LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills
MATHEMATICS: Measurement
GRADES Pre-K - 2
NM-MEA.PK-2.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
NM-MEA.PK-2.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
GRADES 3 - 5
NM-MEA.3-5.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
NM-MEA.3-5.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
GRADES 6 - 8
NM-MEA.6-8.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
NM-MEA.6-8.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
GRADES 9 - 12
NM-MEA.9-12.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
NM-MEA.9-12.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
SCIENCE
GRADES K - 4
NS.K-4.3 Life Science
GRADES 5 - 8
NS.5-8.3 Life Science
GRADES 9 - 12
NS.9-12.2 Physical Science
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Geography
GRADES K - 12
NSS-G.K-12.1 The World in Spatial Terms
NSS-G.K-12.2 Places and Regions
NSS-G.K-12.5 Environment and Society
Article by Ellen Delisio
Education World®
Copyright © 2007 Education World
10/24/2007