#2802. Are You a Frog?

Science, level: Kindergarten
Posted Sun Jan 26 19:23:24 PST 2003 by Tonya Schulz (Trhar01@cs.com).
St. Rita, Louisville, Ky
Materials Required: see materials
Activity Time: 45 minutes
Concepts Taught: compare/contrast

Objective:
Students will compare their anatomy and habits to the anatomy and habits of a frog to identify with the characteristics unique to frogs.

Connections:
§ Students will compare and contrast their bodies to that of a frog through their own observation (Kentucky Learning Goal 1.3 Students make sense of various things they observe).

Context:
This lesson is use as an introduction to the integrated mathematics and science unit I have designed. Students have made observations in previous science lessons. They will listen and observe identify with the characteristics unique to frogs.

Materials/Technology:
§ The book, "Ask Me If I'm a Frog" by Ann Milton
§ Post-it notes
§ Pen
§ Writing journal

Procedures:
§ Read "Ask Me If I'm a Frog" by Ann Milton
§ As the story is being read aloud, have the students observe through touching and looking while answering questions. For example, touch you tongue. Is it long and sticky? Feel the top of your head. Are there two bulgy eyes like marbles up there? Are your eyes on the top of your head? Are you a frog?
§ As I read the book with the children, they will explore and observe to answer the questions. I will stop after each question and allow the children to observe and answer.
§ After reading the book, we will make a list on chart paper to compare and contrast humans to frogs.
§ I will then have the children write their names on a post-it.
§ I will ask the children to determine if they are a frog or a human. I will write the word frog and human in two columns on the board.
§ They will place their name under the correct column to graph their findings.
§ Students will open to the next page in their writing journal. They will respond to the following question: why are you not a frog? Students may draw pictures and/or words to answer the question.

Student Assessment:
I will use discussions to see if the students can identify with the characteristics of humans and frogs. I will also use teacher observation to assess the students during the lesson. The journal entry will also allow me to determine the students' identification with the characteristics unique to frogs.