Tadpoles and Frogs

Chichaqua’s waters include surprisingly large bullfrog tadpoles, as well as several species of full-grown frogs.

Possible Guiding, Compelling and/or Anchoring Questions

• What are the strange creatures? Do they have anything to do with the frogs?
• Why do younger frogs look so different from adult frogs?
• Do all organisms look different in different parts of their lives?

Classroom Suggestions

Students could:

• Visit a park or other area where tadpoles can be found, or see some that are brought into the classroom by the county naturalist.
• Draw or act out a model of the life cycle of the bullfrog.
• Show photos of bullfrog development from a page like this: American Bullfrog Metamorphosis: Tadpole to Frog.
• Split up into different groups to describe the life cycles of humans, familiar animals, and plants. 
• Compare and contrast the life cycle of a bullfrog with those of other organisms.
• Find patterns in data about how long different organisms live, the age at which they reproduce, etc.
• Discuss and make predictions about what would happen if different parts of the bullfrog’s life cycle were negatively affected. (For example, if a chemical in the water killed tadpoles, or made it impossible for adult frogs to lay eggs.)
• Read and discuss Oscar and the Frog or a similar book.

Related Resources

• ArcGIS: 2018 Polk County Conservation BioBlitz at Chichaqua Bottoms: Teacher background - Maps of where different animals and plants can be found at Chichaqua.
• American Scientist: The Giant Tadpole That Never Got Its Legs: Teacher background - Bullfrog tadpole that never matured into an adult frog.
• New Hampshire PBS: Bullfrog: Teacher background - Fact sheet on the bullfrog.
• Science Prof Online: American Bullfrog Metamorphosis: Includes pictures of a bullfrog at different stages of development.
• The Dodo: This Is How a Tadpole Transforms Into a Frog: Not bullfrogs, but shows the whole life cycle, egg to tadpole to frog.
• University of Michigan BioKids: Rana catebeiana: Fact sheet geared toward somewhat higher-level students; may be useful in sections.